1 minute read
THE PROJECT
In the early 1980’s, IBM gave birth to the PC (personal or home computer) and, with it, came the dream of being able to do more in less time and, as a result, have more time for leisure. Indeed, the notion of technology leading the way to the “promised land” of a four-day work week and a stress-free, leisure society turned out to be a myth – nay, a bold-faced lie!
Worse yet, it has turned out to be just the opposite. We must now produce much more work in the same or more time than we did a quarter century ago. While companies have been laying off employees in huge batches – often because technological advances have made them redundant – the rest of us are putting in more working hours than we ever did before.
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What’s wrong with this picture?
Sadly, the hope of simultaneously increasing production efficiency and quality of life was not shared by the business community who evidently saw this as an opportunity to augment the bottom line and squeeze more blood out of the proverbial stone. The capitalists have won again - at the expense of the working stiff – but is society as a whole any better off? And what pray tell is the overall societal benefit of a laid-off worker who goes from a salary of, say, $1,000 for a 40-hour work week to receiving $500 on U.I. for a zerohour work week?
In the words of Peter Finch in the film Network, it’s time we opened our office windows and screamed:
“I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it any more!”
We’ve been tricked, deceived. And personally, I’m pissed. Having just started my working career in the early 80’s, I was primed for a beautiful life –a more sensible balance of work and leisure. But the rug was pulled out from under me!
Broken Promises
is my silent tantrum over The Lie.
It is the result of perhaps a childish rage to destroy the machines that have become both the saviour and the bane of our existence. It is my first attempt to address The Problem and, in so doing, begin a conversation about a search for a more balanced life, in which we can truly use technology to our benefit. At last, we must come to grips with the fact that perhaps this plight is not the fault of The Machine, but of us humans.
We have the technology.
Now what are we going to do with it?
Ted Yudelson
