I need some help in identifying an old science fiction short story. In the early 1950's I read a little story that stuck with me.
The plot was that society had turned dumb, and the great masses of working men were thrilled to have cars that seem to speed, but had speedometers set at about 75 mph when the they were only going forty.
The elite and educated conmtrolled all the production and preferred to live a quiet austere life with no bling or outward show of wealth. Large jewelry were prized by the mob, but the elite lived in little log cabins in the woods.
Anyway I would appreciate a possible title, author or pub date. Thanks
Libraran

Sounds like "The Marching Morons"...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marching_Morons

"The automobiles have a top speed of one hundred kilometers per hour—a kilometer is, if I remember my paleolinguistics, three-fifths of a mile—and the speedometers are all rigged accordingly so the drivers will think they're going two hundred and fifty."

(it's available to read on-line at: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51233 )



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2018 04:14PM by ificouldhietokolob.

+312,966.2328

(I like to be precise.)

Wow, Hie, that’s impressive, even for an impressive man like yourself!

Not really -- *I'm* an old science fiction story from the late 1950's!

OK, 1960. But close enough.


(ok, ok -- I just know how to manipulate google, that's all)

A buddy recommended I read Ray Bradbury’s Junior. Now, it’s your turn :)

It reminds me of Idiocracy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBvIweCIgwk

It was more properly a novella, and when you talk about fiction becoming fact...

It was a short story from LDS Living: Come ride along with President Monson as he goes shopping for luxurious goods at City Creek Mall.

Sounds like an interesting read.

Maybe even at a speed I can keep up with.

;-)

Wonderful! Thank you so much.It is great to have technology for the little things.