Forum Post: Take Back Our Government -- Rein in the Robots

Science fiction writers have speculated about a robot takeover since word ‘robot’ was coined nearly a century ago. What if machines, with their growing abilities and intelligence, developed a will of their own and decided to oppose humans? And what kind of machine might pose such a threat? Fictional robots of the early 20th century were walking, talking suits of armor. In the 1980s, R2D2 was talkative but resembled a rolling expresso machine. By the 1990s, suspicions turned toward computers sporting “artificial intelligence.” Yet intelligence is easily hired, if not bought preloaded on a microchip. Readers today might be suspicious of the killer drones operating in the Middle East. But the drones are little more than flying missile launchers. What if a robot had no metal parts or electronics? What if its heart, brain and backbone were a legal contract, and its other organs human beings? That’s a fair description of the Subchapter C Corporation: a legal contract grown legs -- a profit-seeking robot. The C-Corp’s inner drive is engraved in its “brain”: duty to the stockholders. Keep the stockholders happy with good earnings for the quarter and the year. No impulse in the mind of any director or corporate officer can stand against this imperative. The normal behavior of a C-Corp is always to seek profits. Everything done by its appendages – the directors, accountants, marketers, line supervisors and workers – is coordinated toward that end. No matter if corporate operations pollute air, soil or water; no matter if their actions verge on criminality; no matter if the stockholders themselves breathe poisoned air or drink polluted water – the ultimate consideration is profit. These corporate machines are terrific at making money. No other form seems to work for large business organizations. They are great at integrating international operations. But they should never be involved in government or politics. A corporate robot has no more right to contribute to a political campaign than a robot welder has to join the Pipefitter’s Local 597. What happens when a fabulously rich “person” whose “mind” is entirely ruled by self-interest becomes a player in the political world? Health-care robots push for privatization of every aspect of health care; national defense robots push for a “strong defense” against any conceivable enemy; agro-industry robots push for biofuel subsidies, even if the biofuels yield no more energy than the fuel burned to produce them. Who are the “special interests” we constantly hear deplored? Rarely are they individuals. Who funds the PACs, who channels money through the lobbyists, who sponsors disinformation campaigns to sow confusion about cigarette smoking, global warming or resource depletion? These efforts are overwhelmingly powered by corporate funds. Understand, I’m not writing this from another planet. I worked most of my salaried life for large corporations. They were fine companies to work for. I was proud of their technical accomplishments and enjoyed the people I worked with. But no way do I want these robotic organizations to take part in governing my nation, or in deciding who governs it. The first priority of any political movement today – occupiers, tea party, greens – should to eliminate corporate personhood, by federal statute. It will be giant step towards getting money out of politics.

• Bob Wise Merritt Island, Florida bobwise32952@bellsouth.net