(Pleasure To Burn) In 2025, "Big Tech" is almost invariably a dirty term. The entrenchment of the most powerful tech companies with corrupted government agencies leaves many uneasy about the looming technocracy—and those building it. As modern as this problem appears on the surface, it is not a recent development. It's a foundational feature of the American tech industry.

Last century, the promise of technology permeated American society. In post-World War II America, rosy expectations for the future were commonplace. Disneyland's Tomorrowland embodied this optimism as innovations in the real world—from kitchen appliances to cars and space travel—indicated the future held ease, contentment, and new frontiers for humanity. Even before this era, at least some people were confident that technology would liberate and serve the people.