The Triple Revolution

The Triple Revolution was an open letter addressed to President Lyndon B. Johnson in March 1964, signed by prominent intellectuals including Donald Michael, Robert Theobald, and James Boggs. The letter warned of three concurrent revolutions: the cybernation revolution (automation and computers displacing workers), the weaponry revolution (nuclear arms), and the human rights revolution (civil rights movement). It argued that technological unemployment would become structural and permanent, requiring fundamental economic reforms including a guaranteed income.

The document called for a national policy response to prevent mass unemployment and social disruption. It proposed that the government guarantee income to all citizens, decouple income from employment, and restructure the economy around human needs rather than market forces. The letter became influential in debates about technological unemployment, universal basic income, and the social implications of automation.

The Triple Revolution is considered a foundational text in discussions of technological disruption and economic policy, anticipating concerns about AI and automation that remain central to contemporary policy debates.