The Technocracy movement, emerging from the economic devastation of the Great Depression in the 1930s in the United States and Canada, proposed a radical solution: replacing traditional governance with a system ruled by scientists and engineers.
Does this have a familiar sound?
At the moment we are seeing a frightening rise of technofacism embodied by our own Elon Musk who exemplifies the merging of corporate power with state functions, raising concerns about how tech moguls can shape policy and public discourse without accountability
View this post on Instagram
Elon Musk’s Multiplanetary Universe
Elon Musk, the disgraced son of Pretoria – believes that becoming a multi-planetary species is crucial for safeguarding human civilization against potential global catastrophes on Earth. Musk also believes that AI will eventually replace all human jobs, making work optional. He suggests that in such a future, people might choose to work for personal satisfaction rather than necessity.
By 2040, Musk predicts there could be more humanoid robots than people, which he believes could support economic growth and address concerns about dwindling populations.
One of Musk’s biographers noted, “Throughout his childhood. Elon heard many stories about his grandfather’s exploits and sat through countless slide shows that documented his travels.” Those stories were the seedbed of Musk’s imagination. Those stories were the shoulders he stood on.
Foundational Concepts and Aims of Technocracy
A Canadian chiropractor, Joshua Haldeman became a significant leader within Technocracy Incorporated in Canada from 1936 to 1941.
Haldeman is Elon’s grandfather.
This “technocratic” elite, proponents argued, could manage society and its resources far more efficiently than politicians or business leaders, using data-driven approaches and scientific principles. While the movement ultimately failed to gain widespread acceptance, its ideas and the backgrounds of some of its adherents remain a fascinating, and sometimes disturbing, chapter in history.
Believing that the capitalist system was inherently flawed due to its reliance on artificial scarcity and the price mechanism, the Technocracy movement advocated for a complete overhaul of economic and political structures.
Key tenets included:
- Leadership by Experts
Governance should be in the hands of scientists and engineers (“technocrats”) possessing the technical expertise to manage society effectively, rather than politicians influenced by popularity or political affiliation.
- Capitalism
The existing capitalist system was seen as flawed, relying on a price mechanism that created artificial scarcity. A scientifically managed economy, they argued, could eliminate poverty and unemployment by distributing resources based on need rather than profit.
- Replacement of Currency
Technocrats proposed abolishing money and the price system, replacing them with a new currency based on energy units (like ergs or joules). This system would allow for equitable resource distribution based on energy consumption, with citizens receiving “energy certificates” representing their share of the continent’s wealth.
- Non-Political Governance:
The movement envisioned a government devoid of political parties, elections, and traditional democratic processes, operating instead under a centralized authority led by technocrats making decisions based on data and scientific principles.
- Technate of America:
Howard Scott, a key founder, proposed a “Technate” merging North America into a single entity governed by engineers and technicians, eliminating borders and political divisions.
Haldeman’s Arrest
Haldeman’s involvement with Technocracy Incorporated led to his arrest in 1940 under the Defence of Canada Regulations, as the organization had been deemed subversive during World War II. Haldeman was charged with belonging to an illegal organization and was fined for publishing materials that were considered likely to incite disaffection towards the Canadian government Social Credit Party.
Following his disillusionment with the movement, Haldeman became involved with Canada’s Social Credit Party and, later, emigrated to South Africa in 1950, where he openly supported the apartheid policies of the National Party.
Social Credit is the name of a conservative political movement in Canada that was especially successful in British Columbia and Alberta. It governed those provinces for lengthy periods of the 20th Century. The term Social Credit describes an economic reform doctrine, concerned with the redistribution of capitalist wealth to benefit consumers.
Haldeman’s embrace of conspiracy theories, antisemitism, and racist ideologies stands in stark contrast to the Technocracy movement’s initial promise of a scientifically managed utopia.
Legacy of the Technocracy Movement
The Technocracy movement ultimately failed to achieve its goals of reshaping society. By World War II, it had largely faded from public consciousness.
However, the movement’s ideas continue to be discussed.
The complex and troubling legacy of figures like Joshua Haldeman serves as a reminder that even movements with seemingly progressive goals, can be susceptible to extremism and prejudice.
Haldeman’s story, and his connection as the grandfather of Elon Musk, raises questions about the potential influence of these historical ideologies.
Musk has recently been involved in various initiatives that blur the lines between corporate power and government authority. His support for far-right political movements, involvement with technofascists like Curtis Yarvin, and his role in shaping policy discussions reflect a growing trend where tech leaders exert significant influence over democratic processes, potentially undermining democratic norms. Especially his lies about the South African Government.
Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I’m not black https://t.co/yOFafNValQ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2025
