The American bureaucracy ... was set up for very slow speeds of the printed word and railways. At electric speeds, nothing in the USA makes sense. (1970)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- American bureaucracy was designed for slow systems but fails to make sense under the speed of electric technology.
- In plain terms
- Old government rules do not work well with fast modern technology.
- What can you take from it?
- Outdated systems struggle to keep up with fast modern speeds.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Where do you see old systems failing today?
- Does speed always equal progress?
Another view
Slower speeds can provide necessary checks and balances for stability.
More from Marshall McLuhan
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