Capitalist technological advancements built on bodies

[Questionable]

This is a complex question and I'll try to phrase it as best as I can.

I'm in an argument with some petite-bourgeois liberals who fetishize technological advancements, you know the type, with the cult of personality around any scientist and a disdain for "redneck workers," anyway we were discussing the Space Race and when I brought up the Soviet Union's achievements they told me that the USSR killed millions of people to achieve their goals while capitalism's achievements were made in the name of progress and the betterment of mankind.

I know that's bullshit because many of our technological advancements have their origin in the military-industrial complex. For instance computers started out as bullet simulators back when MIT was almost entirely funded by the Department of Defense, the internet was also a military invention. I would also assume that the rocket technology used for the atomic bomb was probably utilized for NASA as well.

Are there any concrete sources to back me up on this? Any historical accounts available of how many significant capitalist advancements have their roots in imperialism?

Technically speaking I know that all capitalist technology is indeed "built on bodies" as they're made entirely of human labor, but I would also like to back this argument up with real documented sources of how imperialism is tied in with the progress of technology.

Or maybe I'm on the wrong track and talking out of my ass. If so, feel free to set me straight.

[hetz]

Are there any concrete sources to back me up on this? Any historical accounts available of how many significant capitalist advancements have their roots in imperialism?

Most of them, I'd guess.
Imperialism, as it is well known, is the highest stage of capitalism.
The technological progress achieved in the last 50 years is probably times greater than the progress achieved from, say, 1850 to 1900.

[Psy]

This is a complex question and I'll try to phrase it as best as I can.

I'm in an argument with some petite-bourgeois liberals who fetishize technological advancements, you know the type, with the cult of personality around any scientist and a disdain for "redneck workers," anyway we were discussing the Space Race and when I brought up the Soviet Union's achievements they told me that the USSR killed millions of people to achieve their goals while capitalism's achievements were made in the name of progress and the betterment of mankind.


I know that's bullshit because many of our technological advancements have their origin in the military-industrial complex. For instance computers started out as bullet simulators back when MIT was almost entirely funded by the Department of Defense, the internet was also a military invention. I would also assume that the rocket technology used for the atomic bomb was probably utilized for NASA as well.

Are there any concrete sources to back me up on this? Any historical accounts available of how many significant capitalist advancements have their roots in imperialism?

Technically speaking I know that all capitalist technology is indeed "built on bodies" as they're made entirely of human labor, but I would also like to back this argument up with real documented sources of how imperialism is tied in with the progress of technology.

Or maybe I'm on the wrong track and talking out of my ass. If so, feel free to set me straight.

Well if NASA existed for the progress and the betterment of mankind why is its budget a fraction of what it was during the cold war, why is so NASA underfunded and continues to have its budgets slashed.

[hashbangbinzsh]

Werher von Braun who led the project for the Saturn V rocket (the one that launched the Apollo missions) was a Nazi. He was one of nearly 4,000 Nazis who were transported to the USA as part of Operation Paperclip. Those Nazis played a major role in US aerospace and other sciences after WWII.

It's not directly related to "technological progress" as such, but the USA also obtained research notes (in return for immunity from war crimes prosecution) of Japanese scientists from Unit 731, which engaged in testing of biologic warfare techniques on captured people.

If your bourgie friends want to discuss the issue of gulags during the time of Stalin (they were significantly reduced after his rule), use it as an opportunity to bring up the history of race and class based apartheid in the USA-- including incarceration rates right now. Use it as an opportunity to bring up the structural violence of the capitalist system-- see Derrick Jensen's "Why do you pay rent?" riff for a quick and funny summary.

Talking about apartheid and structural violence in the capitalist countries has a "and in America, they beat up negroes" feel to it, but that seems to be the level of the conversation. So, do more research on the history of US imperialism and human rights abuses and go crazy.

Have fun!


(Would post links, but as a new user, the BBS software won't let me)