President Eisenhower: "Ever Aiming Toward the Supreme Goals of Our Free Society"

From a bygone era former President Eisenhower (1952 - 1960) talks about "the supreme goals of our free society." He issues a warning about an impending Technocracy where the nation is ruled by a scientific-technological elite. Read the excerpt below and watch the video clip to judge for yourself how accurate was Eisenhower's foresight.

"Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers. The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present -- and is gravely to be regarded.

"Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.

"It is the task of statesmanship to mold, to balance, and to integrate these and other forces, new and old, within the principles of our democratic system – ever aiming toward the supreme goals of our free society."