Blog #5

In chapter 8 in David Nye's Technology Matters while talking about market driven technological advancements and their negative effects he comments that, "Voters, not 'the market', should decide such issues" (147). Though Dr. Hoenikker doesn't represent "the market", he does represent the reckless endangerment that I believe the public should know about. I think they're are things that we as a nation and in the case of Cat's Cradle, the world should be aware of. Most times, I don't find public opinion very constructive. Most people don't think for themselves enough and let a "higher power" decide things for them. But in the case of "ice-nine" I think that the world would put aside its opinions and give a collective, pardon my language, "Are you fucking crazy?"

I put technology and the wonders it brings on a very high pedestal. Most times, if the negatives aren't to serious I try to give technology the benefit of the doubt and consider the side effects as collateral damage of our unique way of life. But they're are things about technology that do frighten me, enough where I wish they were non-existent. Weapons of mass destruction for instance, most notably: the atomic bomb. Here in America, we have been fortunate enough to never have had fought a war on our own ground. If god forbid, an atomic bomb went off anywhere in the United States I think that a vast majority of the American people would call for the end of the a-bomb, in American and around the world. I do agree with Nye that the public should be involved in the decision making advancing technology, weapons especially. I believe it should be an elected council, an elected council that on state budget goes to semi-annually and gives it thoughts on how new technology is effecting real people everyday. I think everyone should be represented, farmers, laborers, parents, even religion should have the right to share an opinion. If that were the case and the government could stick to its word I think maybe things could run a little smoother. Less toes too step on and even if they step, at least they have a report from a human being rather than a statistic on a piece of paper. If a council existed back in the day when the atomic bomb began, would they have halted its production and said no to its mass annihilation? I'm not so sure, but I think that today I could be a little more confident that American's would say no to it's destructiveness and asked our leaders to end the age of the a-bomb here in America, and especially throughout the world.

I do have confidence that if something like "Ice-nine" showed up at America's door step asking for buyers that America would respond with a no and blowtorch that sucker out of existence. Something like that has 100% risk with 0% benefit. Even the crazies can't say yes to that.