Does our society have a runaway, uncontrollable growth of technology which may end our civilization, or a normal, healthy growth? Here there may be an analogy with cancer: we can detect cancers by their rapidly accelerating growth, determinable only when related to the more normal rate of healthy growth. Should the accelerating growth of technology then warn us? Noting such evidence is the first step; and almost the only ``cure'' is early detection and removal. One way to determine whether we have so dangerous a technology would be to check the strength of our society's organs to see if their functioning is as healthy as before. So an objective look at our present procedures may move us to consider seriously this possibly analogous situation. In any event, whether society may have cancer, or merely a virus infection, the ``disease,'' we shall find, is political, economical, social, and even medical. Have not our physical abilities already deteriorated because of the more sedentary lives we are now living? Hence the prime issue, as I see it, is whether a democratic or free society can master technology for the benefit of mankind, or whether technology will rule and develop its own society compatible with its own needs as a force of nature.

We are already committed to establishing man's supremacy over nature and everywhere on earth, not merely in the limited social political economical context we are fond of today. Otherwise, we go on endlessly trying to draw the line, color and other, as to which kind of man we wish to see dominate. We have proved so able to solve technological problems that to contend we cannot realize a universal goal in the immediate future is to be extremely shortsighted, if nothing else. We must believe we have the ability to affect our own destinies: otherwise why try anything? So in these pages the term ``technology'' is used to include any and all means which could amplify, project, or augment man's control over himself and over other men. Naturally this includes all communication forms, e. g. languages, or any social, political, economic or religious structures employed for such control. Properly mindful of all the cultures in existence today throughout the world, we must employ these resources without war or violent revolution.