It is
ideal for the government to withhold significant control over the steering of
technology because, theoretically, the government should have the people's best
interests in mind and the development of technology should be directed to
improve the well-being of people. However, the absence of workplace democracies
in the corporate environment have led to the surrender of
technological/political steering from the government to industrial
enterprises. Without improved
representation, companies will continue to act on the money-making interests of
a select few and simultaneously endanger its employees and its country.
Democracy
is needed in the workplace to improve employee representation across all
working classes. Employees could be involved in teams to discuss technological
equipment that would assist the workers rather than replace them. This would
boost morale overall as well as motivate those volunteers who worked to ensure
their peers were represented amongst the higher tiers of the company
(Woodhouse, p.98). If employees take more ownership of the company they work
for, they would be more inclined to care about the (technological, social, environmental)
direction of the organization. As Upton Sinclair once stated, "It is
difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his
not understanding it". The involvement of more minds when making
monumental decisions would prevent groupthink, which is the chameleon like
ability of people to adopt the views of their superiors and peers (Lofgren,
2014). Teams constructed with employees of various departments, technical
backgrounds, and skill levels could create the atmosphere necessary to promote
healthier work environments and eventually control the steering of the company
in a more democratic way.
If
democracy is not integrated effectively into the work environment, then the
country will be forced to succumb to the needs and wants of monopolistic
corporations. As it stands, our politics are now governed by the ultra-rich and
mega corporations that have no allegiance to local politics and produce a
culture infused with a self-righteous coldness that takes delight in the suffering
of others (Giroux, 2014). In some of these corporations, the physical
well-being of their employees are put at risk daily by the refusal of higher
management to allocate money for creating a more safe work place (Woodhouse,
p.94). On a national level, since the abolishing of the Fourth and Fifth
amendments of the Constitution, citizens have been exposed to the spying of the
National Security Agency (Hedges, 2014). Companies in Silicon Valley (Lofgren,
2014) have been a key component to the success of the NSA to snoop and scan
through what used to be our private property. The country is at risk on both an
individual and national level of being abused and taken advantage of if large
corporations are allowed to continue throwing money to politicians to control
the steering of technology.
Workplace
democracy is paramount to controlling the steering of corporations in a
direction which better represents and better supports the needs of the people.
It can be used to broaden the minds of narrow-thinking higher administration
and shed light on the true interests of the employees both as individuals and
US citizens. Without it, America will continue racing down a path where
economics drives politics (Giroux, 2014) and the welfare of the people is not
considered.
References
Giroux,
Henry. "Resisting the Neoliberal Revolution." Moyers & Company.
Public Affairs Television, Inc., 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
Hedges,
Chris. "Are We Witnessing the Last Gasp of American Democracy?" Alternet.
Alternet, 6 Jan. 2014. Web. 18 March 2014.
Lofgren,
Mike. "Essay: Anatomy of the Deep State." Moyers & Company.
Public Affairs Television, Inc., 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
Woodhouse,
Edward. The Future of Technological Civilization. University Readers, 2013.
Print.
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