When we think about technology, we often imagine how it can improve our lives. But did you know that big businesses sometimes prevent good ideas from happening? Instead of helping everyone, these companies focus on making money for themselves. The government, whose job it is to protect us, often lets them get away with it because our public servants are getting a cut.
A Sad Story from History
Back in the 1930s, the United States had one of the best electric train systems in the world. These trains were fast, clean, and helped people get around easily. But a group of big companies, including General Motors, Standard Oil, Phillips Petroleum, and Firestone Tire, didn’t like this. They wanted to make money by selling diesel busses and tires, so they started replacing electric trains with GM diesel buses in 16 states.
In 1949, General Motors was found guilty of working together with these companies to destroy the electric train system. But even though they were found guilty, they kept replacing the trains until 1955. Today, the U.S. is way behind other countries when it comes to electric trains. This shows how big businesses can hurt everyone just to make more money.
Here are some additional examples of technological advances that were potentially derailed or suppressed by big corporations in the USA:
1 – Electric Vehicles (RVs) in the Early 20th Century
Electric vehicles were quite popular in the early 1900s. However, electric vehicles were gradually phased out as gasoline-powered cars became more profitable for companies like General Motors, the oil industry, and the automotive sector.
The oil industry and car manufacturers drove the widespread adoption of gasoline-powered vehicles, who saw more profit in selling gasoline than traditional cars. Electric vehicle technology was largely abandoned until it was revived many decades later, and it still will not make it unless we are allowed to harvest electricity at the point of use rather than relying on batteries and recharging.
2 – The EV1 Electric Car (1990s)
General Motors developed the EV1, one of the first modern electric cars, in the 1990s. Despite users’ positive feedback, GM stopped production, recalled all leased vehicles, and destroyed most of them.
It’s widely believed that pressure from the oil industry and government, who are used to taxing every day per gallon, and internal concerns about profitability led to the discontinuation of the EV1 despite its potential to revolutionize the automotive industry.
3 – Streetcar Systems in American Cities (Mid-20th Century)
Many American cities once had extensive streetcar systems. However, during the mid-20th Century, companies like General Motors, Firestone Tire, and Standard Oil bought out and dismantled these systems.
These companies wanted to replace streetcars with buses and cars, which would increase their profits from selling tires, oil, and automobiles. This led to the decline of public transportation, the rise of car-centric urban planning, and the air pollution we have today.
4 – the Tucker 48 Automobile (1940s)
The Tucker 48, developed by Preston Tucker in the late 1940s, was an innovative car with many advanced features, such as a rear engine, disc brakes, and a safety windshield. However, the project was crushed by a combination of legal challenges, financial difficulties, and industry pressure.
The “Big Three” automakers (GM, Ford, and Chrysler) allegedly saw Tucker’s innovations as a threat and were rumored to have used their influence to hinder his efforts through financial and legal means.
5 – Photovoltaic Solar Panels
Photovoltaic (PV) solar panel technology was developed and improved significantly during the 1970s. Despite its potential to provide clean energy, large-scale adoption was slow due to various factors.
The fossil fuel industry, which had deep financial and political ties, resisted widespread solar adoption. Government subsidies and support were directed more towards fossil fuels, stunting the solar industry’s growth.
6 – Public Broadcasting and Internet Neutrality
The concept of a free and open internet has been threatened multiple times, particularly with attempts to end net neutrality, which ensures that all internet traffic is treated equally.
Major telecommunications companies have lobbied extensively to end net neutrality, which would allow them to prioritize certain content or charge more for access to certain websites. This would stifle innovation and limit equal access to information.
7 – Renewable Energy Technologies (20th and 21st Centuries)
Technologies like wind, solar, and geothermal energy have faced significant hurdles regarding widespread adoption.
The fossil fuel industry has long lobbied against renewable energy, aiming to protect its market domination. This has resulted in policies and subsidies that favor oil, coal, and natural gas over cleaner, more sustainable options.
8 – The Hemp Industry (1930s to Present)
Hemp was once a major crop in the U.S., used for products like paper, textiles, and rope. However, it was effectively outlawed in the 1930s due to concerns over a similar but very different plant called marijuana. The fear was spread that people would grow that “deadly marijuana plant” in a field of hemp and pervert all of our youth with the “devil’s weed.” It worked. By spreading that false rumor, the big-money people eliminated their competition for dozens of years.
It is believed that companies like DuPont, which had invested heavily in synthetic fibers, and Randolph Hearst, which had tied up thousands of acres of forest for paper and other products that hemp could replace, played a role in lobbying for the prohibition of hemp. This stunted the growth of the hemp industry, which could have offered a sustainable alternative to many products.
9 – High-Efficiency Lightbulbs (1990s-2000s)
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) offer more energy-efficient lighting solutions than traditional incandescent bulbs.
The traditional lightbulb industry, which was profitable under the status quo, lobbied against regulations that would have phased out inefficient incandescent bulbs sooner, delaying the transition to more efficient lighting.
10 – Tesla’s Free Energy Concepts (Early 20th Century)
Nikola Tesla’s ideas for free, wireless energy were groundbreaking. However, these concepts never saw the light of day in practical terms.
It is widely speculated that the energy industry, which profited immensely from selling electricity, had little interest in pursuing technologies that would make energy freely available to everyone. This lack of financial incentives likely contributed to the abandonment of Tesla’s ideas.
11 – The Water-Powered Car
Inventors like Stanley Meyer have developed technology to run cars on water by converting it into hydrogen fuel. Meyer’s invention reportedly allowed a car to run on water, a concept that could have revolutionized the automotive and energy industries.
Meyer faced numerous legal and financial challenges, and his technology never reached the market. Some believe that the oil industry, fearing the impact on their business, played a role in discrediting or suppressing the technology.
12 – Advanced Battery Technologies (20th-21st Centuries)
Advanced battery technologies, which could significantly improve the performance and range of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, have often been delayed in development and adoption.
Major oil companies and traditional automakers have historically had little incentive to support battery advancements that could disrupt their businesses. There are instances where promising battery technologies were acquired and shelved, or companies were pressured to halt development.
13 – Suppression of Cold Fusion (1989-Present)
In 1989, scientists Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons announced they had achieved cold fusion, a process that could potentially provide nearly limitless energy at room temperature. However, their claims were met with skepticism, and the scientific community largely dismissed cold fusion as a failed experiment.
Some argue that vested interests in the nuclear and fossil fuel industries played a role in discrediting cold fusion research, as its success could undermine existing energy markets.
14 – The Dymaxion Car by Buckminster Fuller (1933)
The Dymaxion car, designed by Buckminster Fuller in 1933, was a highly efficient, aerodynamic vehicle that could carry more passengers and was more fuel-efficient than most cars of the time. It was also intended to be amphibious and capable of flying.
The car never went into mass production due to a lack of financial backing and resistance from the automotive industry, which was the design as too radical and a threat to the status quo.
15 – Television Innovation Suppression (1930s-1950s)
Philo Farnsworth, the inventor of the first fully electronic television, struggled to get his invention widely adopted. Despite his innovations, RCA, led by David Sarnoff, delayed and fought Farnsworth in court to control television patents.
RCA’s legal battles and market dominance suppressed Farnsworth’s contributions and allowed RCA to control the rollout and development of television technology, slowing innovation.
16 – The Corvair Car (1960s)
The Chevrolet Corvair was a compact car produced by General Motors. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader notably targeted it in his book Unsafe at Any Speed. The Corvair had several innovative features, but safety concerns overshadowed its benefits.
General Motors, instead of effectively addressing the safety concerns, tried to discredit Nader and protect its reputation, which ultimately led to the car being pulled from production. This case highlights how corporations might prioritize profit and image over consumer safety and innovation.
17 – Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Trains (1960s-Present)
Maglev trains, which use magnetic forces to lift and propel the train, offering high speeds and low friction, have been promising technologies since the 1960s. However, the U.S. has been slow to adopt Maglev trains.
Despite its potential benefits, Maglev technology has been kept from being widely implemented in the United States due to the high cost of development and the powerful lobbying of traditional rail and automotive industries.
18 – Digital Rights Management (DRM) and Media Innovation (1900s-Present)
Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies are designed to prevent unauthorized copying of digital media. While DRM was intended to protect content creators, it has also stifled media distribution and usage innovation.
Large media corporations, aiming to protect their profits, have pushed for DRM technologies that often limit consumer rights and stifle new forms of digital media innovation, such as sharing or modifying content legally.
19 – Sodium-Sulfur (NaS) Battery Technology (1960s-Present)
Developed in the 1960s, Sodium-sulfur batteries offer high energy density and long life, making them ideal for large-scale energy storage. However, their adoption has been limited.
The dominance of lithium-ion batteries, backed by major companies with significant investments in lithium mining and production, has limited the broader adoption and further development of alternative battery technologies like NaS despite their potential advantages.
20 – Suppression of the Cannabis Industry (20th Century)
Cannabis was widely used for industrial and medicinal purposes until it was heavily regulated and criminalized in the 20th century. The potential of cannabis for medicinal and industrial applications was largely ignored for decades.
The paper and pharmaceutical industries are believed to have lobbied for cannabis prohibition to protect their profits. The DuPont family, in particular, had a vested interest in promoting synthetic fibers over hemp, a sustainable and versatile material.
21 – Ethyl Gasoline Suppression of Ethanol Fuel (1920s-1930s)
Ethanol, a type of alcohol, was once considered a viable fuel alternative to gasoline. However, the introduction of leaded gasoline (ethyl gasoline) by General Motors, DuPont, and Standard Oil pushed ethanol out of the market.
These companies promoted leaded gasoline for its profitability despite its known health risks and the viability of ethanol as a cleaner alternative. Gasoline’s dominance continued for decades, delaying the development of more sustainable fuel sources.
I could go on and on, and you could probably contribute even more examples—if you can, please feel free to add them in the comments. This kind of dominating control of Americans for profit needs to be addressed.
How This Affects Us Today
This problem isn’t just about electric trains. Big businesses control many areas of technology. They often stop new ideas that could help everyone because they’re more focused on making money. For example, Nikola Tesla had amazing ideas about free energy – energy that could be taken from the environment around us. This could have changed the world, but those ideas were never fully explored because big energy companies wanted to keep selling oil and electricity.
What Can We Do?
It’s not to late to change things. Here are some ideas:
Make Government Stronger
We need the government to oppose big businesses. Rules should ensure that companies can’t control everything. People who know a lot about technology and care about everyone should be in charge of these rules.
Share Ideas Freely
If we work together and share our ideas, we can develop new technologies that benefit everyone, not just big companies. This way, we can explore new ideas, even if they don’t make a lot of money.
Build for Everyone
The government should spend money on things that help everyone, like better trains, faster internet, and clean energy. This would improve everyone’s lives.
Think Big
We shouldn’t be afraid to try something big, new ideas, like Tesla’s free energy. Even if they seem impossible, they might be the key to unlocking an even better future.
Learn to Speak Up
The more people know about how big businesses control technology, the more we can do to stop it. We should all learn about these issues and talk to others about them.
The future of technology should not be controlled by a few big companies. If we work together, we can create a world where technology helps everyone, not just those with the most money. By standing up for what’s right, we can make sure that future generations have the best technology possible.