Introduction
With the current advances in automation of production, it could be said that the “bright future” promised to us by socialist forbearers is now foreseeably closer. The platform of the Technological Socialist party is based on a more modern view of non-market socialism. The main focus of the party is on the provision of industrial automation reform, social programs, and the creation of non-market socialism based on the manufacturing of products through the most efficient automated means, their export to neighboring countries. At the same time, the government will be providing re-education for former industrial workers, and other programs required for the sustainability of the country. Education, health care, and housing would be provided to the people according to their needs. These three elements would be a priority to ensure that the public funds are not wasted on extraneous programs. However, the non-market approach would not imply isolationism as diplomacy would be the cornerstone of foreign policy for Canada (Chattopadhyay, 2016).
Under this regime, people would be free to follow their desired careers. Arts and sciences would be prioritized in education to further increase the technological base of the country and its cultural influence on the world. While it is likely that the transitional period would be difficult for the country, as businesses and industries would have to be majorly restructured, the end result would remove the gap between the poor and the rich, provide everyone with means of survival, and show that when technology may be extremely helpful when it is not used for the exploitation of people. The last two decades have shown how uncontrolled capitalist systems can corrupt government institutions, destroy social programs, and even start profitable but deadly wars across the world. Perhaps it is the time to start focusing on the needs of every person in the country, rather than just a few. This is the goal of the Technological Socialist Party (Chattopadhyay, 2016).
Response to Direct Democracy
Studies have shown that a complete focus on democracy can create a larger presence of corruption in the system. This is due to the higher power that wealthy people have in controlling the messages that the general public receives. It is possible that if the GDP per capita hits a certain level, direct democracy may be able to represent a large portion of the population. However, it is unlikely that in the current state of economy and GDP a complete focus on democracy would truly be representative of people’s needs and desires. It is also dangerous to rely on the opinions of uninformed citizens as they may lead to the creation of policies based on public opinion rather than evidence and fact. Currently, it is unreasonable to assume that every voting person in the country would be able to make an informed and beneficial decision on the foreign policy of Canada, economic reform, or social programs. It would also be difficult to represent minority groups such as the native populations in a system that only caters to the opinion of the majority. The difference of opinion in the country may also lead to further unrest if uninformed policies begin to negatively affect the livelihood of citizens (Jetter, Agudelo, & Hassan, 2015).
References
Chattopadhyay, P. (2016). Marx’s associated mode of production: A critique of Marxism. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Jetter, M., Agudelo, A. M., & Hassan, A. R. (2015). The effect of democracy on corruption: Income is key. World Development, 74(10), 286–304.