Friday, April 13, 2012
The Next Socialist Revolution
I feel that the text we read in class seemed to really doubt the possibility of another socialist revolution, especially in America. While I did not completly agree with Marx, I feel that another socialist revolution could came around. Maybe not in America (the bourgeoisie establishment has convinced the entire population that socialism is evil), but I think it's possible that yet-to-exist technologies might further widen the gap between rich and poor. In one game series I have played, humanity has reached a point in their understanding of biology and technology where they can augment humans with cybernetics. While this allows the disabled to walk, hear, see, etc, again, augmentations are only available to the very wealthy. Even if someone in the lower castes of society can afford the augments, the body typically rejects the metallic limbs and a series of expensive drugs are needed to keep the body from outright rejecting them. Throughout the game, there are riots other prices of augments and drugs and society across the globe is at a breaking point. While the work is entirely fictional, it presents the possibility that some near-future tech could further the divide between the classes and cause a socialist revolution to erupt.
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Well, I think that this sort of augmented human is very close in the future. I think that sooner, rather than later, prosthetic limbs and other artificial body parts will be available more readily.
ReplyDeleteI also think that this is very likely to cause a bad situation. I think it is vital that we move towards socialism before that sort of crazy unfairness settles in. If it did, the middle and poor classes would be at a distinct disadvantage, given that they won't have the same abilities and potential as the more technologically augmented humans. Society needs to change before technology reaches a certain point on the horizon. If society does not change, the world and its people will be in a really bad place. I think the situation is more precarious than many people give it credit for.
And I thought people were going to call me crazy for talking about robotic socialist revolutions.
DeleteOf course, if something like this (or something else) happens in the near future without any foresight with potential consequences, then I think would have a political, social, and/or economical revolution. Peaceful or not is up to the harbingers of that change.