A Technocracy Movement That Was Successful
- Thread starter Major Major
- Start date
The results of the Election of 1948 were not surprising.
President Witt had been elected in 1940, against some opposition, and in 1944, against only trivial opposition. There was some belief that he would adhere to the "two-term" tradition (even though he had served during almost all of what would have been President Roosevelt's second term) and step down. But there was no one of any prominence in the CPTS who could succeed him.
His announcement at the Scientific Progress Congress (the annual meeting of the CPTS) in September of 1947 resolved that problem.
Remnants of the original political parties, and of fringe movements, attempted to put up candidates to run against him. The usual fate of such was a psychological inquest that resulted in commitment to an NHS mental-health facility. The Socialist International put forward a protest against the hospitalization of Norman Thomas, the would-be Socialist Party candidate, which the American government dismissed as "irrational unscientfic mental derangement".
The President was re-elected with 99% of the vote. An attempted protest against his election, by the filing of blank ballot papers or otherwise not voting for President, was stifled.
The continued re-election of President Witt, as though he were some South American despot, seems to be inevitable, and may end in a violent revolution against CPTS rule, which may also have dire effects.
President Witt had been elected in 1940, against some opposition, and in 1944, against only trivial opposition. There was some belief that he would adhere to the "two-term" tradition (even though he had served during almost all of what would have been President Roosevelt's second term) and step down. But there was no one of any prominence in the CPTS who could succeed him.
His announcement at the Scientific Progress Congress (the annual meeting of the CPTS) in September of 1947 resolved that problem.
Remnants of the original political parties, and of fringe movements, attempted to put up candidates to run against him. The usual fate of such was a psychological inquest that resulted in commitment to an NHS mental-health facility. The Socialist International put forward a protest against the hospitalization of Norman Thomas, the would-be Socialist Party candidate, which the American government dismissed as "irrational unscientfic mental derangement".
The President was re-elected with 99% of the vote. An attempted protest against his election, by the filing of blank ballot papers or otherwise not voting for President, was stifled.
The continued re-election of President Witt, as though he were some South American despot, seems to be inevitable, and may end in a violent revolution against CPTS rule, which may also have dire effects.
The AmeriAir X-727 Flying Wing
The appointment of aviation pioneer Howard Robard Hughes as Chief Technician was held at the time to presage advances in American flight technology. Hughes was possessed of a reputation for being a forward-thinking developer who lead from the front. President Witt's speech making the announcement praised the new CT for his devotion to rationality, science, technology, and progress.
Hughes's absence from the installation was not noted as a negative omen at the time.
His management of the X-727 programme was highly erratic. All plans had to be referred to his office. Changes would be made, the new plans returned, and then the proposed changes would be cancelled and new changes demanded.
At the same time, Hughes began to avoid human contact. One report of dubious reliability describes him as sitting in a cinema, wearing nothing but a napkin over his genitals, watching an endless showing of movies of flight tests. What has been reliably reported is that after the first year of development proposed changes were held up waiting for his approval.
In response to a memorandum from the Presidential Office, Hughes responded that he had a construction plan as firm as a steel band and it was about to be put into operation.
in 1955, the first prototype of the X-727 flew. The plane was built by Regional Technician John K. Northrop, without approval from the Chief Technician, though apparently his approval had been requested. The design of the aircraft was according to the specifications that had been drawn up by Chief Technician Hughes. It was remarked that the dozen radial engines (six pusher six puller) would be difficult to maintain.
The first flight was unexceptional. On the second flight, though, the plane was caught in a windshift and crashed.
The second prototype crashed on its first flight for the same reason. At present the programme is going into full development. A leaked memorandum from Chief Technician Hughes claims that he has developed a solution to the stability problem and its reliability is as firm as a steel band.
The appointment of aviation pioneer Howard Robard Hughes as Chief Technician was held at the time to presage advances in American flight technology. Hughes was possessed of a reputation for being a forward-thinking developer who lead from the front. President Witt's speech making the announcement praised the new CT for his devotion to rationality, science, technology, and progress.
Hughes's absence from the installation was not noted as a negative omen at the time.
His management of the X-727 programme was highly erratic. All plans had to be referred to his office. Changes would be made, the new plans returned, and then the proposed changes would be cancelled and new changes demanded.
At the same time, Hughes began to avoid human contact. One report of dubious reliability describes him as sitting in a cinema, wearing nothing but a napkin over his genitals, watching an endless showing of movies of flight tests. What has been reliably reported is that after the first year of development proposed changes were held up waiting for his approval.
In response to a memorandum from the Presidential Office, Hughes responded that he had a construction plan as firm as a steel band and it was about to be put into operation.
in 1955, the first prototype of the X-727 flew. The plane was built by Regional Technician John K. Northrop, without approval from the Chief Technician, though apparently his approval had been requested. The design of the aircraft was according to the specifications that had been drawn up by Chief Technician Hughes. It was remarked that the dozen radial engines (six pusher six puller) would be difficult to maintain.
The first flight was unexceptional. On the second flight, though, the plane was caught in a windshift and crashed.
The second prototype crashed on its first flight for the same reason. At present the programme is going into full development. A leaked memorandum from Chief Technician Hughes claims that he has developed a solution to the stability problem and its reliability is as firm as a steel band.
Ok, I may have missed it in my reading, (quite probable since I missed the whole Soviet Technocrat purge and it was RIGHT there
) but was "Technocracy" supposed to be pacifist in nature or design? Because I didn't really get that from the general read and it certainly has no 'issues' killing TTL or at least outright 'removing' any opposition so sticking with 'non-lethals' when they obviously don't work. I can 'kind-of' wrap my mind around the Technate reducing the military for more 'reliable' troops but this isn't even on par with any of the State militia's or for that matter a major metropolitan police force of the period.And I am going to point out again the Technate, (and especially Witt) is very much in danger here with appearing and being taken as weak and ineffective... And having no significant 'armed forces' to speak of the Technate is very much in danger of both internal and/or external attack. (Criminal gangs were able to easily gain access to foreign and domestic made military grade weapons during this time and frankly the Technate as "oppressive" as it is is proving to be easy to bypass or ignore at this point)
I'm going to cross post, or re-post some of the more "technical" discussions to the original Technocracy thread as I don't want to flood this thread with 'mechanics' discussions
(Nope didn't get the De Santos reference I'm afraid)
Randy
Ok, I may have missed it in my reading, (quite probable since I missed the whole Soviet Technocrat purge and it was RIGHT there
And I am going to point out again the Technate, (and especially Witt) is very much in danger here with appearing and being taken as weak and ineffective... And having no significant 'armed forces' to speak of the Technate is very much in danger of both internal and/or external attack. (Criminal gangs were able to easily gain access to foreign and domestic made military grade weapons during this time and frankly the Technate as "oppressive" as it is is proving to be easy to bypass or ignore at this point)
I'm going to cross post, or re-post some of the more "technical" discussions to the original Technocracy thread as I don't want to flood this thread with 'mechanics' discussions
(Nope didn't get the De Santos reference I'm afraid)
Randy
The mindset of the CPTS, President Witt's conclusion, is that armed struggle is a thing of the past. This was why the SWAT Squadrons were equipped with non-lethal weapons.
This is an opinion that is too fixed to be dispelled by such experiences as these; there will always be an explanation, an excuse, a rationalization. Fortunately there is no one who directly threatens the U.S. at this time. Canada doesn't want to fight them and Mexico is still recovering from the Civil War. General de Santos's raid was an exception, as he by circumstances had enough men to fight, even though they had to advance on foot.
Now as to Soviet spies . . .
Oh I'm familar with the 'concept' and thinking... I assume you've seen "Modern Mechanix":
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/
A good 2/3rds of the inter-war 'futurism' "assumed" that science and weapons advancements meant that "conflict" was a thing of the past. The problem, especially for organizations and individuals such as CPTS and Witt, is that they can only be so 'delusional' and remain in power. And for every article and 'opinion' that stated that there were about double which pointed out those same factors no longer allowed two oceans and 'distance' to be America's sole defense either. The Technate can 'withdraw' from the world all it wants the problem is the "world" has no reason to allow it to stay that way and a LOT of reasons to force it to keep itself 'availalbe' to trade and discourse. And without a 'military' to resist such pressure the Technate has no choice but to comply.
(And don't think for a moment JAPAN will not pursue a 'reverse-Perry' given the slightest chance. Especially if America is basically 'helpless' before them)
Again "opinion" and fact can and are often two different things and "obvious" displays of weakness and ineffectiveness ferment rebellion and dissatisfaction. Forget Canada and Mexico per-se at this point it will be clear to anyone in and around the area where the conflict took place, (and keep in mind we've already had SEVERAL very clear failures of both weapons and SWAT itself) that both the Technate and Witt are vulnerable. It would not be difficult for groups of armed citizens, (and again getting arms, and we're talking MILITARY grade arms into the country simply isn't that difficult) to rise up and resist and frankly Britain, (through Canada) and other European or Asian powers (through Canada or Mexico or even directly as the the US has no means to stop such activity) have ample incentive to support and even supply such uprisings as the Technate is no ally or friend.
Japanese, British, Mexican heck China could have spies and assets in the US working against the Technate they really have little ability to stop them. If Japan hasn't already moved to put Hawaii into the GEACPS they they at least have forced basing and 'passage' rights since the US can't stop them. And then there's the Panama Canal which if Britain hasn't move to become 'protector' over I'd be shocked. The US certainly can't do the job. As it stand currently you can have CITIES secede from the Technate successfully let alone regions or States and there's very little the Technate can do to impede, let alone stop them.
(OTL Hitler could be argued to have been 'similarly' fixated in "opinion" but that didn't effect the outcome a bit)
Randy
BTW Major-Major, is this the TL mentioned here:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...nt-was-successful.401067/page-4#post-13424939
'cause if it is I'm gonna shut up now since it's already written and just enjoy the ride since I'm mostly kibitzing anyway
Randy
https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...nt-was-successful.401067/page-4#post-13424939
'cause if it is I'm gonna shut up now since it's already written and just enjoy the ride since I'm mostly kibitzing anyway
Randy
Oh and speaking of;
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/electro-tank-shoots-lightning-rays/#more
Ok not exactly 'non-lethal' but along the right lines
Randy
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/electro-tank-shoots-lightning-rays/#more
Ok not exactly 'non-lethal' but along the right lines
Randy
From a private report of the Bank of International Settlements
. . . one of the more significant contributors to the ongoing financial crisis is the withdrawal of the United States from finance.
In 1955, the American government announced the introduction of “Energy Certificates”, a new form of currency. It was explained that Energy Certificates represented the amount of energy consumed in the manufacture of a product, thus being a more realistic and more soundly-based form of currency.
Initially, commerce was carried on with dual usage; Americans purchasing goods and services had to pay with both Energy Certificates and dollars. In 1956, the internal use of dollars was terminated; all internal financial transactions were conducted in Energy Certificates.
This greatly obstructed foreign shareholders, who could not receive Energy Certificates. The banking system continued the issuance of dollars, but only for foreign transactions. Importers to the United States found that they had only dollars, which could only be used to buy American goods marked for export.
More signficant was that the American banking system essentially ceased to exist. It is no longer possible to obtain loans from America. There has been a slow liquidation of foreign holdings in the country, exchanging stocks for for-export goods. This has contributed to a slowing of economic activity, due to the disappearance of capital.
The internal American market is substantial enough to continue without significant foreign commerce. It is difficult to determine the status of the American economy, though, as the Energy Certificate has no exchange value. Estimates have been made based on the values of comparable goods, but even there it is difficult, as American goods are not easily obtained. Rough estimates are made using the official listing of goods, the CIM Buyer’s Guide, but this work is banned for foreign circulation, and the descriptions of goods therein are explicitly oblique and uninformative.
America is becoming an economic blank in world trade. Its technologies are unavailable, there being no way for any foreign firm to license or buy them.
. . . one of the more significant contributors to the ongoing financial crisis is the withdrawal of the United States from finance.
In 1955, the American government announced the introduction of “Energy Certificates”, a new form of currency. It was explained that Energy Certificates represented the amount of energy consumed in the manufacture of a product, thus being a more realistic and more soundly-based form of currency.
Initially, commerce was carried on with dual usage; Americans purchasing goods and services had to pay with both Energy Certificates and dollars. In 1956, the internal use of dollars was terminated; all internal financial transactions were conducted in Energy Certificates.
This greatly obstructed foreign shareholders, who could not receive Energy Certificates. The banking system continued the issuance of dollars, but only for foreign transactions. Importers to the United States found that they had only dollars, which could only be used to buy American goods marked for export.
More signficant was that the American banking system essentially ceased to exist. It is no longer possible to obtain loans from America. There has been a slow liquidation of foreign holdings in the country, exchanging stocks for for-export goods. This has contributed to a slowing of economic activity, due to the disappearance of capital.
The internal American market is substantial enough to continue without significant foreign commerce. It is difficult to determine the status of the American economy, though, as the Energy Certificate has no exchange value. Estimates have been made based on the values of comparable goods, but even there it is difficult, as American goods are not easily obtained. Rough estimates are made using the official listing of goods, the CIM Buyer’s Guide, but this work is banned for foreign circulation, and the descriptions of goods therein are explicitly oblique and uninformative.
America is becoming an economic blank in world trade. Its technologies are unavailable, there being no way for any foreign firm to license or buy them.
From a review document of the British Admiralty
. . . The United States Navy has ceased to exist.
This is a sweeping and broad judgment; however, it is not without foundation.
Naval Attachés were withdrawn in 1947, when the American government withdrew all its military attachés from overseas postings and requested that the like courtesy be observed. The status of the ships of the former fleet has been determined from the observations of travellers and random sightings by merchant crew.
Sometime in 1944 (the date is not certain) the fleet ceased operations. The surviving ships were withdrawn to various ports and laid up, with apparently no particular effort at preservation. Scrapping began almost immediately, and the last of the former vessels of the Navy apparently was disposed of around 1950.
It was not long thereafter that the remaining personnel of the Navy were discharged. There was no explicit statement regarding this, but an oblique comment by the American President Mr Witt saying that “ships of war are technologically outdated” clearly refers to this.
The American “second navy”, their “Coast Guard”, appeared to have survived beyond this, operating deteriorating ships with a lack of new recruits. This service was engaged in lifesaving, conducting the Ice Patrol in the North Atlantic, and the like.
The last Ice Patrol ship sank in 1953. The destroyer HMS Caesar picked up an SOS message from the ship, but upon arriving at the position given found no survivors or wreckage.
The American government has since then employed lighter-than-air craft as ice patrol, claiming superior range and a greater area covered. At least four dirigibles of the American Airship Bureau have gone down due to icing.
It should be noted that smuggling, a former concern of the Coast Guard, has ceased due to the closing of the American Economy. While a Cuban or Panamanian gang might wish to bring spiritous liquors or illegal drugs into the country, the winding-up of the American currency means that they cannot buy anything with what they would get for selling.
Soviet and Japanese naval vessels have made incursions into American coastal waters on an increasing basis. The American response has been to ignore this.
. . . The United States Navy has ceased to exist.
This is a sweeping and broad judgment; however, it is not without foundation.
Naval Attachés were withdrawn in 1947, when the American government withdrew all its military attachés from overseas postings and requested that the like courtesy be observed. The status of the ships of the former fleet has been determined from the observations of travellers and random sightings by merchant crew.
Sometime in 1944 (the date is not certain) the fleet ceased operations. The surviving ships were withdrawn to various ports and laid up, with apparently no particular effort at preservation. Scrapping began almost immediately, and the last of the former vessels of the Navy apparently was disposed of around 1950.
It was not long thereafter that the remaining personnel of the Navy were discharged. There was no explicit statement regarding this, but an oblique comment by the American President Mr Witt saying that “ships of war are technologically outdated” clearly refers to this.
The American “second navy”, their “Coast Guard”, appeared to have survived beyond this, operating deteriorating ships with a lack of new recruits. This service was engaged in lifesaving, conducting the Ice Patrol in the North Atlantic, and the like.
The last Ice Patrol ship sank in 1953. The destroyer HMS Caesar picked up an SOS message from the ship, but upon arriving at the position given found no survivors or wreckage.
The American government has since then employed lighter-than-air craft as ice patrol, claiming superior range and a greater area covered. At least four dirigibles of the American Airship Bureau have gone down due to icing.
It should be noted that smuggling, a former concern of the Coast Guard, has ceased due to the closing of the American Economy. While a Cuban or Panamanian gang might wish to bring spiritous liquors or illegal drugs into the country, the winding-up of the American currency means that they cannot buy anything with what they would get for selling.
Soviet and Japanese naval vessels have made incursions into American coastal waters on an increasing basis. The American response has been to ignore this.
Logistics logistics logistics.
While the Japanese are indeed pressing on the American government ("Technate" is a term from OTL Technocracy, not used in this ATL) they are for the moment more focused on the China Incident. The American government is not interfering in China, which means as the Japanese can devote their resources to their current war unimpeded by (for example) oil embargos.
The Scientific Bureau of Investigations monitors such matters. People who talk armed revolution are quickly found to be of unsound mind and are committed for treatment. Watching the guy who was chanting "Spirit of 1776!!" last year shamble along, having to wear an adult diaper and not able to talk beyond an occasional "uh" tends to disrupt any potential militia.
And no one has any foreign currency with which to buy arms. See above about Energy Certificates being unconvertable. And yes, it is causing financial disruption in the world economy. The official statement of President Witt is, "This demonstrates how unscientific the former financial arrangements of the world were, with their constant depressions, devaluations, and other capital destruction. The institution of a scientific means of financial transactions has brought an end to this."
Cities are controlled by the central government; check above. A city that seceded would be cut off the power grid and have transport to it brought to a halt. There might be riots but the Technical Police would suppress them (inefficiently and at some loss but they would be suppressed). The production of firearms and munitions is one of the industries that has been terminated.
There are spies, but they are reduced to sending through dead drops, since postal mail has almost come to an end, and the Internal Network is monitored and does not have overseas connections.
The Panamanian government was allowed to take over the Canal Zone and the canal in 1942. President Witt said that the development of air transport rendered such facilities obsolete.
The Succession Issue
President Witt will not live forever. Even the scientists and technologists of the CPTS admit this.
The question then arises: who will succeed him?
The American constitution, for all that it is honoured more in the breach than the observance, specifies that if the President dies in office, the Vice-President will succeed to the powers of the office. President Witt has chosen a different running mate for each election; the vice-presidency is apprently seen as a perk for deserving subordinates, with no real duties or power. The Vice President does not represent the United States at functions abroad, but then such representation is assigned to the Senior Diplomatic Representative to that country. When King George VI died, the American representative at his funeral was Diplomatic Representative Milo Harper, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering.
The current Vice-President is Frederick B. Farquhson, an engineering professor from Washington State. The candidate for Vice-President in the current election on the non-party ticket (which is the only one which is on the ballot) is Frank J. Molina, a scientist with expertise in rocketry.
While there are a number of CPTS officials with administrative expertise and experience, they are not given public notice. The official doctrine is that all associates of the CPTS are equally capable of performing the duties of any associate, due to the rationalisation of education which imbues students with the rational principles of the organisation. A further point is that these officials are regularly reshuffled.
The commanders of the Special Weapons and Tactics Squadrons might undertake a seizure of power, but all such units are monitored by the Scientific Bureau of Investigation, which in turn is monitored by the Special Staff of the Presidency, which is monitored by the Reconnaissance Squadrons of the SWAT Group.
This leaves few people of public notice. The Chief Technologist Mr Hughes, for example, has become completely withdrawn from public life, communicating through a restricted group of aides, which are in turn frequently discharged or reassigned.
The United States might well fall into chaos upon the demise or incapacitation of President Witt.
President Witt will not live forever. Even the scientists and technologists of the CPTS admit this.
The question then arises: who will succeed him?
The American constitution, for all that it is honoured more in the breach than the observance, specifies that if the President dies in office, the Vice-President will succeed to the powers of the office. President Witt has chosen a different running mate for each election; the vice-presidency is apprently seen as a perk for deserving subordinates, with no real duties or power. The Vice President does not represent the United States at functions abroad, but then such representation is assigned to the Senior Diplomatic Representative to that country. When King George VI died, the American representative at his funeral was Diplomatic Representative Milo Harper, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering.
The current Vice-President is Frederick B. Farquhson, an engineering professor from Washington State. The candidate for Vice-President in the current election on the non-party ticket (which is the only one which is on the ballot) is Frank J. Molina, a scientist with expertise in rocketry.
While there are a number of CPTS officials with administrative expertise and experience, they are not given public notice. The official doctrine is that all associates of the CPTS are equally capable of performing the duties of any associate, due to the rationalisation of education which imbues students with the rational principles of the organisation. A further point is that these officials are regularly reshuffled.
The commanders of the Special Weapons and Tactics Squadrons might undertake a seizure of power, but all such units are monitored by the Scientific Bureau of Investigation, which in turn is monitored by the Special Staff of the Presidency, which is monitored by the Reconnaissance Squadrons of the SWAT Group.
This leaves few people of public notice. The Chief Technologist Mr Hughes, for example, has become completely withdrawn from public life, communicating through a restricted group of aides, which are in turn frequently discharged or reassigned.
The United States might well fall into chaos upon the demise or incapacitation of President Witt.
The Revolution.
The dispersal of the International Plenum of the Fourth (Trotskyist) International in Paris, after a disagreement which turned into a riot within the meeting hall, brought to the attention of the Deuxieme Bureau the status of revolution in the United States. The disagreement began with a quarrel between representatives of the Socialist Workers Party of America and the American Socialist Workers Party over the establishment of an American Red Army. In the course of the investigation, certain matters regarding the status of the United States came to their attention.
In 1951, the production of firearms and ammunition came to an end there. No firearms had been listed as available for purchase in the CIM Buyer’s Guide (the official “catalogue” of American commerce) since 1947, but it was still possible to obtain foreign-made weapons and ammunition as late as 1957.
It is possible to make black powder and cast lead bullets, for those who possess such weapons, but purchase of the components is exceedingly difficult, and the Scientific Investigations Bureau has monitored such commerce. The ostensible reason is that both lead and potassium nitrate are poisonous and promote a hazard to the health of the user.
The firearms and other weapons of the American military have been destroyed. Similarly, the Technical Police have turned in firearms, which have been destroyed.
Violent crime has increased in the regions abutting on Mexico. A Mexican criminal with a firearm can kill several Technical Police armed only with shock guns and sleep gas. The principal control on such events has been the lack of things worth stealing. Energy Certificates do not circulate in Mexico.
(The American government has announced a transition away from physical Energy Certificates — it is hard to call them “currency”. Under the direction of CPTS Senior Associate Isaac S. Azimov, the creation of a “Rational Bank” using telegraphic transmissions of transactions to banking centres using the former Federal Reserve Bank facilities is in progress, though the process is much delayed. Azimov has declared “The creation of a rational financial system will unleash the creative energies of the American people, heretofore constrained by the burden of an unscientific economy.”)
Given the widespread possession of firearms in the United States prior to the election of President Witt, it may be considered likely that the means of arming a revolutionary group exist. It should be noted that the disparate types of firearms would make sustaining such an effort problematic.
As for foreign invasion, the withdrawal of the United States from foreign affairs and the disarmament of the country has made such an effort superfluous. The country has no military force to prevent an action by a foreign power. Japanese and Soviet airplanes overfly the country, their ships use American waters, all without resistance. It is as though the country were a terra nullus.
The dispersal of the International Plenum of the Fourth (Trotskyist) International in Paris, after a disagreement which turned into a riot within the meeting hall, brought to the attention of the Deuxieme Bureau the status of revolution in the United States. The disagreement began with a quarrel between representatives of the Socialist Workers Party of America and the American Socialist Workers Party over the establishment of an American Red Army. In the course of the investigation, certain matters regarding the status of the United States came to their attention.
In 1951, the production of firearms and ammunition came to an end there. No firearms had been listed as available for purchase in the CIM Buyer’s Guide (the official “catalogue” of American commerce) since 1947, but it was still possible to obtain foreign-made weapons and ammunition as late as 1957.
It is possible to make black powder and cast lead bullets, for those who possess such weapons, but purchase of the components is exceedingly difficult, and the Scientific Investigations Bureau has monitored such commerce. The ostensible reason is that both lead and potassium nitrate are poisonous and promote a hazard to the health of the user.
The firearms and other weapons of the American military have been destroyed. Similarly, the Technical Police have turned in firearms, which have been destroyed.
Violent crime has increased in the regions abutting on Mexico. A Mexican criminal with a firearm can kill several Technical Police armed only with shock guns and sleep gas. The principal control on such events has been the lack of things worth stealing. Energy Certificates do not circulate in Mexico.
(The American government has announced a transition away from physical Energy Certificates — it is hard to call them “currency”. Under the direction of CPTS Senior Associate Isaac S. Azimov, the creation of a “Rational Bank” using telegraphic transmissions of transactions to banking centres using the former Federal Reserve Bank facilities is in progress, though the process is much delayed. Azimov has declared “The creation of a rational financial system will unleash the creative energies of the American people, heretofore constrained by the burden of an unscientific economy.”)
Given the widespread possession of firearms in the United States prior to the election of President Witt, it may be considered likely that the means of arming a revolutionary group exist. It should be noted that the disparate types of firearms would make sustaining such an effort problematic.
As for foreign invasion, the withdrawal of the United States from foreign affairs and the disarmament of the country has made such an effort superfluous. The country has no military force to prevent an action by a foreign power. Japanese and Soviet airplanes overfly the country, their ships use American waters, all without resistance. It is as though the country were a terra nullus.
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Here's a detailed but readable historical overview of the Technocracy movement from a book otherwise chronicling Lyndon LaRouche. Basically, the author compares the two movements and evaluates them as personality cults with fringe beliefs that had kooky ideas from left (planned economy), right (nativism and scapegoating), and center (energy technobabble), and how they both drew from similar milieus of societal interest in scientific management. He summarizes some of Akin's book on technocracy and the details are quite interesting. Definitely worth a read for anyone interested in the movement.
Well, that would happen with Admirals Heinlein and Hubbard at the helm.
Nope.
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard has been instutionalized for promoting pseudoscentific quackery.
Robert Anson Heinlein was elected a California State Assemblyman in 1938 but was removed from office for espousing unscientific doctrines about life, and became a civil engineer.
Internal memorandom of the government of the Republic of México
. . . the basing of Japanese submarines in Mazanillo has gone unnoticed by American observers. That they have no attachés in the country has contributed to this secrecy. The recent request that a cruiser squadron be based there to escort the tankers has caused some concern, and the decision will have to be referred to the President . . .
. . . Japan has become the principal customer of Pemex, with over 60% of production being shipped there. The trade is not without some problems as Japanese foreign currency holdings are limited, and some were in the American dollar, which as your Excellency is aware trades only in foreign commerce. Pemex has changed its pricing to the British pound sterling because of this . . .
. . . Observers sent to the Philippines for training note that the Filipino government is becoming more dominated by Japanese “advisors”. They are not permitted to travel to Formosa, Choson, Manchuko, Mengjiang, or the Reorganized Government of the Republic of China so have no standard of comparison.
The Philippine Republic is tied into the Japanese Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The Filipino peso is tied to the Japanese yen. The majority of Filipino industries have Japanese shareholders, often holding a majority of shares. It is believed that these shareholders are nominees of major Japanese zaibatsu.
Internal memorandum of the British Colonial Office.
. . . the government have taken steps to limit the number of Japanese workers in and visitors to Hong Kong. There have been a number of clashes with such people, who adopt a distinctive style of dress and bearing, and seem to consider themselves technologists in the mode of the American CPTS. A Japanese hooligan, though, will begin an assault by striking a martial-arts pose, crying out a martial-arts cry, and then leaping through the air at his intended victim. This usually enables the target to avoid the attack, unless drunken or otherwise impared.
There have been clashes with members of the Chinese Green Gang, who fled to Hong Kong after the Japanese puppet government banned them. Since these people carry firearms, the clashes tend to be brief and one-sided.
From the Annual Report of President Howard Witt
“The Japanese have attempted to emulate our system. Burdened as they are with unscientific and irrational beliefs, their attempts are vain and ineffective. The CPTS of Japan is at considerable effort to extirpate these irrationalities, and has been in a struggle with the dominant powers there. With the example of America to hand, the effort will be successful.”
. . . the basing of Japanese submarines in Mazanillo has gone unnoticed by American observers. That they have no attachés in the country has contributed to this secrecy. The recent request that a cruiser squadron be based there to escort the tankers has caused some concern, and the decision will have to be referred to the President . . .
. . . Japan has become the principal customer of Pemex, with over 60% of production being shipped there. The trade is not without some problems as Japanese foreign currency holdings are limited, and some were in the American dollar, which as your Excellency is aware trades only in foreign commerce. Pemex has changed its pricing to the British pound sterling because of this . . .
. . . Observers sent to the Philippines for training note that the Filipino government is becoming more dominated by Japanese “advisors”. They are not permitted to travel to Formosa, Choson, Manchuko, Mengjiang, or the Reorganized Government of the Republic of China so have no standard of comparison.
The Philippine Republic is tied into the Japanese Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The Filipino peso is tied to the Japanese yen. The majority of Filipino industries have Japanese shareholders, often holding a majority of shares. It is believed that these shareholders are nominees of major Japanese zaibatsu.
Internal memorandum of the British Colonial Office.
. . . the government have taken steps to limit the number of Japanese workers in and visitors to Hong Kong. There have been a number of clashes with such people, who adopt a distinctive style of dress and bearing, and seem to consider themselves technologists in the mode of the American CPTS. A Japanese hooligan, though, will begin an assault by striking a martial-arts pose, crying out a martial-arts cry, and then leaping through the air at his intended victim. This usually enables the target to avoid the attack, unless drunken or otherwise impared.
There have been clashes with members of the Chinese Green Gang, who fled to Hong Kong after the Japanese puppet government banned them. Since these people carry firearms, the clashes tend to be brief and one-sided.
From the Annual Report of President Howard Witt
“The Japanese have attempted to emulate our system. Burdened as they are with unscientific and irrational beliefs, their attempts are vain and ineffective. The CPTS of Japan is at considerable effort to extirpate these irrationalities, and has been in a struggle with the dominant powers there. With the example of America to hand, the effort will be successful.”
From a leader in Nature
America should be the leading nation of the world in scientific and technological fields. It has, according to its own statistics, over sixty percent of all the scientists in the world and over seventy percent of the engineers. These figures are according to public records and appear to be accurate. In addition, the country has the largest numbers of scientific and engineering graduates in the world.
Yet, the number of published scientific papers by American scientists is disproportionately low. American engineering advances are limited to the development of existing technologies, not to the development of new ones. Why is this?
The preponderance of those scientists and engineers are not in scientific or engineering work, but in government administration. The officials of the Federal government all have such degrees, as do all the Administrators of the states and cities, as well as many of the elected officials.
The CPTS has created a programme which encourages American students into those fields, and then directs the graduates into administrative positions in the government. The reason given for this is that "the nation requires leaders who are fully conversant with rational and scientific means of endeavor'.
Meanwhile, American research institutes and engineering organisations languish, lacking new personnel.
America should be the leading nation of the world in scientific and technological fields. It has, according to its own statistics, over sixty percent of all the scientists in the world and over seventy percent of the engineers. These figures are according to public records and appear to be accurate. In addition, the country has the largest numbers of scientific and engineering graduates in the world.
Yet, the number of published scientific papers by American scientists is disproportionately low. American engineering advances are limited to the development of existing technologies, not to the development of new ones. Why is this?
The preponderance of those scientists and engineers are not in scientific or engineering work, but in government administration. The officials of the Federal government all have such degrees, as do all the Administrators of the states and cities, as well as many of the elected officials.
The CPTS has created a programme which encourages American students into those fields, and then directs the graduates into administrative positions in the government. The reason given for this is that "the nation requires leaders who are fully conversant with rational and scientific means of endeavor'.
Meanwhile, American research institutes and engineering organisations languish, lacking new personnel.
The American Interurban System
The American government has sought to decrease the use of personal motor vehicles, stigmatizing it as "irrational and unscientific." American cities now have extensive urban transit networks, elevated, ground level streetcars, or subways.
For transit between cities, while the bulk of cargo is transported by train, personal transit uses other methods.
A few use the air, travelling in such vehicles as the AmeriAir 417. This is a propellor-driven aircraft, held to be the equivalent of the British Comet and the German Kondor-6. Few AA 417s operate in air service, whether internal or international, due to lack of demand.
The principal means of internal passenger transport is the InterUrban System. This is a series of electrically-powered vehicles, with capacity and functions in between city transit vehicles and passenger trains. (The latter have been discontinued entirely, the railway system being reserved entirely for cargo transport.) Most InterUrban routes are run by enlarged streetcars. A few, primarily in the American West, running over longer distances, have sleeping facilities.
This is one of the measures which has encouraged the consolidation of farms, and the shift of population to cities. The small farmer cannot get repairs for his motor vehicle, and horses bred for personal use are becoming increasingly unavilable. (In fact, horse breeding in the United States is coming to an end, with the demise of racing and of equestrian sports, which have been stigmatised as "unscientific".)
Farms are now large establishments owned by corporations, which in turn are heavily regulated by the government. They use wage labour to perform agricultural activities.
The American government has sought to decrease the use of personal motor vehicles, stigmatizing it as "irrational and unscientific." American cities now have extensive urban transit networks, elevated, ground level streetcars, or subways.
For transit between cities, while the bulk of cargo is transported by train, personal transit uses other methods.
A few use the air, travelling in such vehicles as the AmeriAir 417. This is a propellor-driven aircraft, held to be the equivalent of the British Comet and the German Kondor-6. Few AA 417s operate in air service, whether internal or international, due to lack of demand.
The principal means of internal passenger transport is the InterUrban System. This is a series of electrically-powered vehicles, with capacity and functions in between city transit vehicles and passenger trains. (The latter have been discontinued entirely, the railway system being reserved entirely for cargo transport.) Most InterUrban routes are run by enlarged streetcars. A few, primarily in the American West, running over longer distances, have sleeping facilities.
This is one of the measures which has encouraged the consolidation of farms, and the shift of population to cities. The small farmer cannot get repairs for his motor vehicle, and horses bred for personal use are becoming increasingly unavilable. (In fact, horse breeding in the United States is coming to an end, with the demise of racing and of equestrian sports, which have been stigmatised as "unscientific".)
Farms are now large establishments owned by corporations, which in turn are heavily regulated by the government. They use wage labour to perform agricultural activities.