21.6. A Hope Beyond Technology

So what am I suggesting? Only that it is time, finally, to bring certain long-recognized truths into our social and personal decision making. There are always trade-offs in the pursuit of efficiency, and this implies a tremendous burden of responsibility for those engaged in the pursuit; and, likewise, every time we dissolve a place into placelessness, we also dissolve an incalculable amount of materially incarnated social and cultural capital.

When we take these truths seriously, we will no longer so easily conclude that "more efficient" or "cheaper" signifies "better." Nor will we take it for granted that using investment and tax policy to encourage rapid adoption of networking technologies is an obvious and unqualified good for society; we will be more inclined to look for massive hidden costs. And we will not stigmatize as "backward" a school that opts out of computer-based curricula—especially if this school is focused upon fashioning vibrant places where kids can belong.