Summation: Auren Hoffman

with Auren Hoffman
February 10-16, 1997

Social Responsibility in the 21 st Century
Technology and the Workplace
by Auren Hoffman
Picture this. For every four Americans between the ages of 18-65 working, three will be out-of-work and not paying taxes. These people – most of them from white-collar backgrounds – will be out of luck -- either supported by the government or living a life of crime. All because of advances in technology. Albeit, this is a rather dark and unlikely outlook of the future -- but it is worth examining.
Technology is vastly improving the workplace. Less people are needed to do more complicated tasks than even a few years ago. Technology can make a job far more stimulating – computers do all the calculations (and then some) that people used to do by hand. But technology is fast eliminating jobs for the less educated American. A friend of mine once told me that "the only problem computers can't solve is the unemployment they create."
As a technophile, I believe in progress. But while we move forward – we mustn't forget that we are leaving behind a vast number of people who need food, shelter, and a decent living. These men and women who don't graduate from the top colleges or know little about emerging technologies could potentially make up a permanent American outerclass – a class of people who today occupy mid-level manager positions at large corporations and in government bureaucracies – positions that are quickly being eliminated by technology. These men and women will be overqualified for many menial labor jobs and will start competing for skilled labor jobs – which will also decrease significantly.
I was hired a few years ago by Pacific Telesis to streamline their purchasing process so they could save money by eliminating jobs. The indirect result of my work forced the expiration of two long-term mid-level consultant contracts. Though this might be a sizable savings to Pacific Telesis (my work rendered their jobs useless), it was a sizable penalty to both consultants who had to look for other work.
This article is not meant to echo the demagoguery of David Bonior and Patrick Buchanan who are overly wary of technological advancement. Our society must go forward – we must make our future.
This article is meant as a gentle reminder that we, as a compassionate society, cannot forget the people who might be adversely affected by change. Change is good – but only when those who greatly benefit from the new circumstances make sure that others are taken care of. I'm not promoting Communism or government hand-outs, I'm promoting actively shaping our society for the better. Those who benefit from societal change must become activists to ensure that an outerclass will not and can not develop.
When I talk about "activists," I am not referring to the traditional Berkeley radical but rather to men and women who take an active role in our society to look out for humankind. Unless the technically competent and the very bright look out for all our neighbors – we may live in the dark and dreary land I described in he opening paragraph where crime is the norm, good health is rare, and societal progress (rather than technical progress) is stagnant.
Technology is quickly making America a smaller land. We must look out for all our neighbors.

SUMMATION

Past Summations

About the Author

About Summation

The Fans

The Links

Gotta problem? Contact Auren