The decision voters face in supporting or opposing our proposal for a Department of Technology is not just about policy—it is a literal matter of life and death. As we push for the creation of this new government body at the federal, state, and local levels, it becomes clear that the stakes could not be higher. This isn’t just about managing technology or improving cybersecurity. It’s about safeguarding our future in a world where technology is becoming deeply intertwined with health and human survival.
Technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and quantum computing, are progressing at an unprecedented rate. These breakthroughs have already begun to reshape healthcare. With AI’s growing potential in medicine, voters must soon make critical decisions about how to handle life-saving innovations. Will we allow medical advances that prolong healthy lives to be monopolized for profit, or will we ensure swift public access to treatments that can fundamentally improve human well-being?
A dedicated Department of Technology, with elected leaders at every level—state, county, and municipal—can ensure ethical governance over how AI is used to develop life-enhancing medicines and procedures. We anticipate that AI will soon enable unprecedented improvements to the immune system, muscular strength, and cognitive function. This could mean a future where people live well beyond 100 years in full mental and physical health.
But without clear, ethical oversight, these breakthroughs could be controlled by corporate interests that prioritize profit over public health. The Department of Technology would be vital in regulating these innovations, ensuring fair access, and protecting the public from exploitative practices.
The choice is simple: vote for a future that prioritizes life-enhancing technology for all, or risk letting these advancements be controlled by the few. Share this with your friends, family, neighbors, and elected officials—our future depends on it.
Scenarios
Here are a series of compelling scenarios that highlight the potential impact of a Department of Technology and why voters’ decisions are a matter of life and death:
Scenario 1: Life-Saving AI-Powered Cancer Treatment
Context: It’s 2030, and AI-driven technology has revolutionized cancer treatment, enabling precise and personalized therapies that can target tumors at the molecular level. However, without proper regulation, these innovations are monopolized by a few large pharmaceutical companies that charge exorbitant prices, limiting access to only the wealthiest patients.
Outcome without the Department of Technology: The most vulnerable populations—those without adequate healthcare coverage—are denied access to these life-saving treatments. Thousands of lives that could be saved are lost each year due to corporate greed.
Outcome with the Department of Technology: The elected Secretary of Technology ensures that life-saving treatments are accessible to everyone by limiting the patent duration on AI-driven medical breakthroughs. This means cancer patients can access affordable treatments much sooner, saving countless lives and reducing healthcare disparities.
Scenario 2: AI-Enhanced Cognitive Health and Aging
Context: AI and biotechnology have made it possible to reverse cognitive decline associated with aging, allowing individuals to maintain mental sharpness and memory well into their later years. However, without transparent and ethical governance, these advancements are patented for decades, and only the wealthy can afford the expensive treatments.
Outcome without the Department of Technology: Society faces a two-tiered aging process—those who can afford cognitive enhancements thrive, while others face accelerated aging and mental decline. Families watch their loved ones suffer from preventable conditions like dementia simply because they cannot afford the treatment.
Outcome with the Department of Technology: An elected Technology Supervisor at the county level pushes for immediate public access to cognitive enhancements. This ensures all citizens, regardless of income, benefit from longer, healthier lives. People are not forced to choose between financial ruin and preserving their cognitive health.
Scenario 3: AI-Controlled Emergency Medical Robotics
Context: In rural areas, AI-controlled robotic surgeons are able to perform life-saving procedures remotely in hospitals that lack highly skilled human doctors. However, without proper regulation, the companies controlling these AI systems prioritize profits, cutting corners on safety protocols and selling faulty robots to underfunded hospitals.
Outcome without the Department of Technology: A patient in a small town dies on the operating table because the AI-controlled surgical robot malfunctions. With no dedicated agency overseeing these technologies, the family is left devastated, and the hospital faces lawsuits, but the company responsible remains largely unaccountable.
Outcome with the Department of Technology: A state-level Director of Technology ensures that all AI medical devices undergo strict testing and compliance before being deployed. The result is a robust system of oversight that ensures life-saving technologies function safely and effectively in every hospital across the country.
Scenario 4: Quantum Computing Unlocks the Cure for Genetic Disorders
Context: Advances in quantum computing enable researchers to unlock the genetic code of previously incurable disorders like muscular dystrophy or ALS. These breakthroughs could revolutionize healthcare, but patenting them for long periods of time would mean only the ultra-wealthy can afford the treatments.
Outcome without the Department of Technology: For years, these genetic therapies remain out of reach for the vast majority of patients. Only a handful of those suffering from these debilitating conditions can afford the life-altering treatments, while others continue to endure lifelong suffering.
Outcome with the Department of Technology: Elected officials at all levels—state, county, and municipal—work together to enforce policies that ensure these quantum-driven genetic therapies are widely accessible. Government regulations ensure the public can benefit from these cures almost immediately, saving millions of lives and improving the quality of life for those with genetic disorders.
Scenario 5: Smart Infrastructure and Health Emergencies
Context: A city equipped with smart traffic lights powered by AI is able to clear roads for ambulances and emergency vehicles during critical situations, cutting emergency response times in half. However, without proper oversight, the technology becomes unreliable, often malfunctioning due to inadequate cybersecurity measures.
Outcome without the Department of Technology: A cyberattack on the city’s traffic system causes major malfunctions during a medical emergency, resulting in the delay of an ambulance carrying a critical patient. The patient dies en route to the hospital because the technology failed when it was needed most.
Outcome with the Department of Technology: A county Technology Supervisor ensures that all AI-powered traffic systems are equipped with cutting-edge cybersecurity protections, preventing disruptions and ensuring that emergency vehicles can respond quickly and efficiently. Lives are saved due to the swift and secure operation of this critical technology.
These scenarios demonstrate how essential a Department of Technology will be for ensuring that life-saving and life-enhancing technological advancements are developed and deployed ethically, safely, and equitably. Voters must recognize that their support for this proposal could mean the difference between life and death for countless individuals in the coming decades.