Question: Why do we have to have that computer
spying on everything?
Answer: Anyone who has read the first 3-5 chapters in Invisible
Hand is well aware
that the computer system in the novel sees and hears everything that everyone
does, even in the bedroom. The computer system also keeps track of everyone's
money and what they did to earn it. Each person's reputation is also maintained
by the same computer system. As you can easily imagine that is a huge concentration
of power in one central system. It almost demands that the people in charge
of such a system take advantage of that information to the detriment of everyone
else. It is a super-totalitarian government that would be almost impossible
to rebel against. Big Brother would be right at home with such a system.
I believe that the computer
spying or at least computer
observation is coming no matter
what. That is, I included such
a computer system in the novel
because the computer will become
more and more capable of seeing
and hearing in more and more
places no matter what we do
unless we give up the use of
electricity altogether. Now
the only question is how
will that computer system be
used? We
know how it will be used in
every nation of the world
as things now stand. Can you
really believe that any present-day
government would not use that
system to monitor their "enemies"?
Would any U.S. campaign for
the Presidency
ever be fair when the current
President could monitor everything
the other party was doing all
the time? Would those who oppose
some government policy be able
to express that disagreement
without fear of reprisal in
ways that could not be foreseen
or resisted?
So what I am suggesting is
that by changing the nature
of our money we can create
a context in which the computer
observation would be relatively
safe. In fact, in which the
observation would protect us
and provide help when we needed
it. The programming of computers
can hide information as well
as make it public. The software
that makes our computers so
useful can be made to safeguard
our privacy from human observation.
Who cares if a camera is watching
if no human being will ever
be able to see what that camera
is recording? You might as
well have a cat watching and
listening.
With the non-POM everyone
who is involved with the computer
system will have a selfish
and greedy motive to protect
everyone's privacy. They will
be rewarded for keeping private
matters private. They will
get paid for protecting files
from hackers. Since the computer
will be watching those who
write the programs and who
maintain the physical computers
it will be almost impossible
for them to pry without being
caught right away. Therefore,
the temptation to access information
that is none of their business
will be very small and easy
to resist.
In short, every bit of information
the computer collects will
be used, if at all, to help
you and to make your life better
with a non-POM economy. Can
you imagine how bad things
would be for the Payers if
that were not so? The Payers
will have to be very sensitive
to abuse of the computer system
because their own happiness
and even safety depends on
preventing such abuse.
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