EPCWEB The Art of Business and the Business of Art

June 2002

Vol.2 No.5 · June 2002

Feature Article

June 2002

Eclectic Artists Publishing.

The Triumph of Big Brother

Sections within this article:

1. RealFiction

2. 21st Century Senior Sibling

3. 2020 Vision

4. Sleeping Well

5. Summary & Conclusions

When Eric Blair, better known by his pseudonym George Orwell, wrote “1984“, his publisher diplomatically classified it as fiction. However, Mr. Blair probably thought of it as ‘NewFiction’: A writing which abstracted one reality and presented another in order to help its audience understand where humanity had come from, where it was, and where it was heading.

It is possible that Blair/Orwell helped in another way: By calling emotionally-charged attention to the potential terror of the modern technological totalitarian state he gave us a new concise language to embody our fears and identify potential threats… Thus ultimately forcing ‘the powers that be’ to chart a different course, perhaps buying the common citizenry precious time and tools in our struggle to remain free from paternalistic authority.

That was then, this is now. Maybe all Orwell really did was to force our rulers to be more subtle, more clever, and more sophisticated in their techniques of mass control. Today, we sail the waters of a more carefully crafted “-ism”. Below the surface of public debate, history IS re-written to purge the past atrocities of “those who control the present”, thus enabling them to shape the future. Two old sayings assert that “Truth is stranger than fiction” and “Art imitates life”. Our modern world is a combination of these two wisdoms, a “RealFiction” where life and art, truth and fiction, dreams and nightmares, are obscured and confused until freedom is undesirable and justice is impossible.

Is it possible that, while we slept in the opiated comforts of mass consumerism, Big Brother has triumphed, quietly morphing into a demon so omnipotent, omnipresent, and omninative that we can no longer see “it” at all? Is it possible that “we” are “it”? Have we, finally, lost our individuality, our soul, and “gone to the devil”, after all?

RealFiction


It is comforting to know that 1984 is only a story, isn’t it? It is also comforting to know that the year 1984 came and went without a massive TV monitor in each room of our homes watching every move we make, isn’t it? After all, 1984 is only a story. Repeat that again: 1984 is only a story. Now, go back to sleep.

Apart from it’s blatant sci-fi components (i.e., high-tech survelliance technology which gave a governmental twist to the long-embraced “God knows your every act and thought” mythology), 1984 contains one of Orwell’s most profound contributions to public consciousness: That language is intimately related to how we think and feel, and that powerful institutions can consciously ‘evolve’ our language to manipulate us. Today, this notion is known sinisterly as “propaganda” when our adversaries try to use it, and benignly as “spin” when our own government succeeds. (Indeed, Linguist/Activist Noam Chomsky has spoken powerfully on this topic for the past 40 years.)

It is important to recognize that languages are living systems which naturally evolve in response to the complexity and variety of the total communication demands the environment places upon social groups. But Orwell, having watched the tools of propaganda plied with increasing sophisticaiton by all sides during World Wars I & II, gaves us a new term, “NewSpeak”, describing a systematic attempt by those in control to limit the expression of “unorthodox” (read: “undesirable”, “contrary”) opinions. In Orwell’s mind, and in the real world since his writing, the natural evolution of language is being subjugated to the needs of the ruling classes wherever possible.

Today, American English, distributed on a massive scale by U.S. technological and economic power, is causing rapid evolution (or demise) of most other human languages (much to the dismay of various cultural purests, notably French-Canadians). Moreover, technical writing styles, especially computer programming (i.e., “computerese” syntax composed of concantenated compound words describing the derivation or use of a variable — similar to the logical custom of old-German adjective-noun clusters) are rapidly changing the way common American English is written. Oxymoronic “DoubleSpeak” (our suggested concantenation of Orwell’s ‘DoubleThink’ and ‘NewSpeak’ concepts) now abounds in the common vernacular: “Public Servants” referring to government officials who earn more than 98% of the populations they ‘serve’; “Defense Department” for the leading aggressor and promulgator of war on the planet; “Business Ethics” for an apparently non-existent code of behavior; “Homeland Security” for an agency being designed to limit citizen rights and privacy more than any external enemy ever has.

Beyond vocabulary, there is even a subtle revolution occuring in grammatical punction as technical writers adopt the more formal logic of mathematical symbolism and apply this to daily writings: A period still ends a completed thought, but a hierarchy of connectivity is now more apparent within sub-thoughts; A colon (:) separates related yet tangential points which are necessarily linked to complete a larger, compound thought; A semi-colon (;) separates examples or lists (sets and subsets, as it were); Individual items within sets are separated by a comma (,) which is also used to connect very similar ideas (i.e., slight ‘spins’ on the same idea intended to help give the reader proper perspective); To help readers keep track of the higherachy the writer sometimes uses a numbering systems such as (1), (2), etc.; A long dash, or double-dash (–), demarcates space for an important, related comment (mid- or end-sentence); Parentheses ( ) are used to contain a brief aside or example within — or just following — a sentence; Hyphens (-) are used to imply a high degree of connectivity between separate word-concepts, while Slashes (/) demonstrate the relative interchangeability of words/concepts; and a series of three dots (…) are used to tie a prelude to it’s rejoinder. Clearly, punctuation is not sinister, but serves only as an example of the increasingly formal mathematical abstractions within our language and its syntax, now ‘demanded’ by our environment.

Given increasing sophistication of both our vocabulary and our syntactical structures, it should not be surprising that precise language (and therefore precise thought) eludes the common person. Just as students often lose track of the precise derivation of abstract mathematical formulae (such as The Calculus), the common person is increasingly ignorant regarding the derivation (etymology) of words or ideas, preferring to simply accept and repeat whatever momentary definition is promoted by so-called authorities. This is especially true as the main language of international commerce becomes more refined, abstract, complex and esoteric. Read any quote reporting public statistics and you will easily understand why Will Rogers listed the types of deception (in order of increasing wickedness) as “Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics”. Most folks simply can not accurately interpret, limit or challenge sneaky mental twists couched within terms of statistics.

By example, understanding my main point (which is the reason for writing/reading this, after all) depends on your simultaneous contemplation of these other ideas:(1) Single words are inherently limited in their precision; (2) Our minds recognize the complexity of the world and the limitations of our language; (3) We use our logic and agreed-upon linguistic rules to provide our audience with the data points necessary to better triangulate our intended multidimensional concepts/understandings; (4) As new vocabularies, grammatical structures, and colloquial conventions become commonplace, we often de-hypenate “new” terms into compound words (Cyber-Space becomes Cyberspace) or contractions (“Modem” from Modulator-Demodulator) which provide for a more concise (yet ever-more abstract) language, similar to esoteric technical and mathematical formulae; (5) As a new generation is raised with such a ‘NewSpeak’ they can be trained to naturally understand the ‘equivalence’ of Love/Power/Money/SelfWorth/Obligation/Obedience — they know nothing else — which provides increasing control for the ruling class… Thus, Liberal Arts Studies, ACLU (replacing “American Civil Liberties Union) and Liberal are all now perjorative to a wide number of citizens within the self-proclaimed “Land of Liberty”; meanwhile, with ignorance as their main strength, laborers scramble freely for positions as endentured slaves within the growing “service economy” so they can proudly pay taxes for the War of Peace. This paragraph contains examples of all vocabulary, punctuation, and NewSpeak evolutions now in use in the modern ‘American’ language. Do you understand?

Any ‘Doubting Thomas’ can see these purposeful manipulations in practice weekly, even daily, in the main stream press. Less than 9 behemoth corporations now control more than 90% of all media worldwide, so setting and maintaining a specific agenda is relatively easy. Watch how the same stories are given prominence, and how some stories are universally down-played or ignored, across these ‘competing’ firms. Watch how a cerain buzz word or new phrase (e.g., “Homocide Bomber” in place of “Suicide Bomber”) is injected by a public official and then immediately adopted by all major media outlets. Note how even relatively unimportant events (such as the release of a big budget film) are simultaneously catapulted center-stage on TV, radio, cable, and in print. Analyze the similar choices of ‘spin’ and ‘limits of debate’ used by all major media firms relative to any given event: Given the supposed intellectual freedom and theoretically competitive pressures of ‘the marketplace’, we should expect a wide array of spins, analyses, phrases, theories, perspectives, etc., as each public voice attempts to differentiate itself for its own advantage… but this is not the case. Why not?

Finally, it is not enough to simply manipulate the components and use of language: It is also important to control the actual process of thought to the greatest extent possible. Masses are most easily controlled when individuals routinely censor their own thought according to reinforced guidelines of ‘political correctness’, ‘social custom’, ‘polite behavior’, ‘patriotism’, and even ‘sanity’. Modern terms for systems designed to accomplish this objective range from ‘education’ to ‘socialization’ to ‘indoctrination’ or even ‘brainwashing’, depending upon both the actions of the ‘reinforcers’ and the perspective of the observer. In Orwell’s novel, “The Party” advocates the use of “Doublethink” by individuals, a form of “reality control” which is similar to what psychologists today call cognitive dissonance — the act of holding two contradictory thoughts in your head at one time, but purging your awareness of the contradiction. You believe that BLACK is WHITE, that NIGHT is DAY, and that FREEDOM is SLAVERY — if that is what the authorities tell you. Intriquingly, this mind-fuck (mental masturbation, actually) can be accomplished most easily when you have faith. In 1984, faith and duty were owed in respect of the benevolence of the ‘ever-loving’ Party, collectively and affectionately known as “Big Brother”. Today, such an invention seems quite unnecessary: The ruling class simply continues to piggy-back on powerful ancient mythologies, professing that they are acting in the service of an ever-loving and benevolent ‘God’, a claim which provides several thousand years of built-in rationalizations for faith, duty and cognitive dissonance.

But is ubiquitous propaganda the only aspect of the modern world which is starting to look a lot like the world of Big Brother in 1984?

21st Century Senior Sibling



The most terrifying possibility, similar to the plot line of 1999’s sci-fi hit “The Matrix”, is that we believe we are living the dream of freedom, when in fact were are completely unaware that we are actually trapped within a nightmare of slavery; we believe that we are the liberators helping oppressed people to become free, when in fact we are the oppressors ensuring the perpetual servitude of larger and larger blocks of humanity. How would a population caught within such a mass self-delusion ever become aware of its true nature?

Just because multinational corporations prefer cryptic acronyms (“WTO”, “IMF”, “G7”, etc.) instead of splashy warning labels such as “Big Brother”, does not mean that we have avoided the results of the same economic and sociopolitical forces considered by Orwell. While 1984 never spells out the “The Party”‘s true motivation for totalitarian control, in the real world the motivation is clear (money/power), and “The Party” is NOT a government, but is instead an oligopoly of elites using transnational corporations and figure-head governmental servants to implement their rule.

Contemplate the following examples of just how far we have drifted toward the nightmare of 1984. As you do, try to remain conscious of EXACTLY how you respond (emotionally and intellectually) to each example: What self-censoring mechanisms are operating within you as your comfortable worldview is challenged? Then ask yourself: How did we let this happen, in spite of clear warnings by Orwell, Huxley (Brave New World), Toffler (Future Shock) and others.

1. In 1984, every citizen was known to, and tracked by, the The Party. Today, Social Security Numbers uniquely mark each of us, by law, and act as our main I.D. in the government’s central database. Originally this number was ‘guaranteed’ to remain completely private, although today it is widely demanded by insurance companies, banks, credit companies, employers, landlords, health organizations, and all levels of governments and agencies… and is routinely used (legally and illegally) to develop wide-reaching collections of information about our activities and beings.

2. In 1984, The Party tracked all activity. Today, nearly every commercial activity must now be licensed and overseen by the state, with an array of regular reporting requirements to various local, state and/or federal agencies. Interstate transport and commerce are heavily monitored, regulated and policed. Border crossings require governmental permisions and scrutiny, especially for individuals (yet the international flow of massive amount of capital are swift and easy for most large institutions).

3. In 1984, The Party used massive data repositories to keep tabs on its subjects. Today, governmental agencies and multinational corporations routinely cross-index and cross-report various filings required, solicited or otherwise ‘captured’ from individuals… and are pushing determinedly to have fully-integrated systems in place as quickly as possible. Corporations and government agencies routinely trade volumes of information about us, including: health data; specific shopping purchases; investment and credit data; real estate holdings; utility usage; social, political and business memberships; licenses; and even private actions within our own homes (if they feel we hold some ‘public’ value for them). Recent laws have specifically authorized financial institutions to buy and sell private information about each of us unless we write to each institution and demand that they keep such records private. (Note that the data collection and trading systems are already in place, the burden to limit the practice is placed upon you, and there is NO WAY for you to know whether these for-profit firms are abiding your instructions.)

4. In 1984, The Party used powerful and ubiquitous survelliance technologies. According to published reports by ex-Intelligence Agency personnel, governments (especially various U.S. ‘law enforcement and security’ agencies) now deploy an incredible array of powerful electronic survelliance systems (‘for public safety’, of course) which are used to: monitor transportation corridors and public areas throughout most major cities and along many highways around the world; ‘read’ every internet message; ‘record’ every broadcast; ‘listen’ to every long distance phone call (and any chosen local, regional or international call whether by cellular or wired devices); ‘scan’ every publication; ‘view’ any point on Earth at any time from an array of satellites; database, analyze and cross-index massive volumes of collected information, using computing systems powerful enough to crunch, store and retrieve all of this data. Moreover, many major corporations employ an array of private survelliance, and even overt espionage, methods.

5. In 1984, there was no place to hide: The Party could always track your whereabout and movements. Today, transponders (which emit a constant and uniquely identifying signal receivable by satellites) are already used to monitor airplanes and boats worldwide — with pinpoint accuracy of 1 to 3 feet for general purposes, and as little as hundredths of an inch for military and engineering purposes. Similar devices are now being designed for non-removable installation within every automobile. Such systems have been used in individual automobiles in Hong Kong for more than a decade, allowing officials of that ‘free market’ island to tax drivers based on the time, distance and roads used within the city, and even constantly monitor their driving, issuing automated citations by mail whenever speed limits or other laws are violated. And, as many popular movies have already depicted, your cell phone also acts as a virtual transponder (communicating constantly with microwave towers instead of satellites) — Public agencies are now pushing for enhanced triangulation abilities (‘for public safety purposes’, as always) to more accurately pinpoint the movements of anyone carrying a cellular device.

6. In 1984, The Party had an abundance of reasons and power to seize your person or possessions, and once you raised its ire you were effectively screwed. Today, despite its “Home of the Free” slogan, the U.S. incarcerates a higher percentage of its population than any other nation. The prison-industrial complex is one of the fastest growing areas of the U.S. economy. Prisons themselves are widely known to be brutal, corrupt, sadistic and psychologically devastating institutions, known more for recidivism than rehabilitation. Most terrifying of all, there are an array of draconian laws against ‘consensual’ acts deemed undesirable by the paternalistic state (such as gambling, prostitution, drug use, etc.). Wide segments of our population both participate in these activities and support laws against them… this is clear evidence of successful indoctrination, doublethink, cognitive dissonance, etc. Further, rampant ‘selective enforcement’ of our thousands of laws renders the U.S. ‘justice’ system as a clearly political tool of control which can effectively neutralize anyone perceived as a bona fide threat to those now in power… even if the ‘threat’ is simply non-violent demonstration, or disclosure of injustice and unconstitutional behavior by the ruling parties.

7. In 1984, The Party was ‘always at war’ with one enemy or another, and its enemies and allies flip-flopped from time to time. Today, the U.S. (and its ‘allies’) are ‘always at war’. (Now officially!) Historical ‘allies’ (such as Iran, Iraq, Panama, Afghanistan) have become our new ‘enemies’, while historical enemies (Japan, Germany, Russia) become our new allies. Just as in 1984, official “enemies of the state” are always villified and dehumanized, they are never portrayed as having valid greivances, reasons, fears, or motivations for thier actions or responses. Horrifying acts committed by our allied forces are always excused and justified. U.S. weapons manufacturers sell arms directly to combatants in 70% of all conflicts worldwide, often to both sides! Just as in Orwell’s tales, all conflicts are portrayed as a stark threat to the very existence of our nation, our system, and our way of life, so ‘we’ are encouraged to actively HATE ‘them’ (in spite of simultaneous pretensions to be largely a nation of ‘forgiving Christians’).

8. In 1984, The Party’s information machine actively re-wrote history: to revise the rationalizations for hating or trusting one foreign country or the other; to restate the proper expectations of the public and the proper goals for the government and economy; to demonstrate at all times how efficient, benevolent and successful The Party was performing on behalf of the people. Today, while no one actually re-writes old copies of the New York Times (akin to Winston’s job in 1984), media organizations, government officials and corporate flaks purposefully ‘spin’ the facts and analysis, ‘new facts are brought to light’ retrospectively, and the ‘facts’ contained within original reports are re-interpreted, selectively edited, and purposefully re-analyzed to suit the current agenda of ‘the powers that be’. Skeptics can consult the extensive research of M.I.T. Professor Noam Chomsky, F.A.I.R. (Fairness and Accuracy in Media), and other media watchdogs which clearly demonstrate such purposeful bias and manipulation within the mass media (a bias which is blatantly corporate/conservative, rather than the liberal bias constantly asserted by the media flaks themselves — a perfect example of purposeful disinformation at work). Nowhere are real world machinations more obvious (to the objective researchers, at least) than in the reporting of various acts of war and aggression throughout our history (from U.S. and European imperialistic conquests of indigenous populations to modern wars wages in East Timor, Central America, the Middle East, etc.). Rather than re-write old stories, today’s Industrial Party strategists simply count on public apathy and timely sensationalistic diversions to keep the masses from becoming aware of the contractions between the old and new stories: Indeed, even when public watchdogs uncover dramatic and indisputable evidence of the machinations, a few timely “conspiracy theory” slanders will usually suffice to lull the public back to sleep (despite the fact that dozens of actual conspiracies between major corporations have been proven/admitted in court over the past 50 years).

9. In 1984, The Party wielded stunning power and brut force whenever it needed it: The individual, or any collections thereof, was virtually powerless against such force. Today, well-armed Federal and State forces include the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, 50 separate state National Guards, FBI, CIA, NSA, dozens of specialty units (such as Navy Seals and Marine Berets), Federal Marshalls, Park Rangers, Sheriffs, Police, State Troopers, etc. Their weapons range from stun guns and tear gas, to helicopter warships designed specifically to subdue ‘uprisings’ in U.S. urban areas, to remote control missiles and satellites, to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and even various psychological, disinformation and defamation tactics. They have shown repeatedly that they are not ashamed to use any or all of the above to accomplish their objectives… and the entire chain of command is trained SPECIFICALLY to follow orders without question! (Thus, honest and caring personnel have often reported feeling ‘used’ and ‘ashamed’ after participating in atrocities ordered by their commanders; orders which they may have refused to carry out if they were not subject to prison or death for insubordination… we tried many Nazis for war crimes although they were only following orders, but we demand that same blind obedience from our military and police forces.)

10. In 1984, The Party has succesfully indoctrinated the masses, gaining their faith and complicity in an effective self-monitoring manner, even going so far as to train children to report on ‘thoughtcrimes’ committed by their parents. Today, children are routinely taught to inform authorities if their parents use drugs (an act which should NOT even be illegal for consenting adults under the U.S. Constitution). Moreover, most people are now so indoctrinated that it is virtually impossible for them to recognize the many and obvious contradictions between those ‘rights’ which are ‘guaranteed’ by the U.S. Constitution and the current laws which make those ‘rights’ illegal. They are trained to quickly accept, repeat and rally behind even the most convoluted justifications for the loss of rights and freedoms, labeling critics as fanatical threats to the ‘safety’ of the state and its citizenry.

11. In 1984, The Party broke down the last vestiges of individual freedom, ultimately becoming more powerful than love itself: “do it [terrible things] to her!”, was Winston’s final capitulation, after which understood and accepted that he loved “Big Brother” more than anything else. Today, “do it to them” is a common refrain, justified, accepted, advocated. We are happy to bomb the cities and villages of foreigners, even as we are morally indignant when they dare do the same to us. We are happy to support (even encourage) slave labor and ridiculously low standards of living for most of the world’s populations in order to ensure gluttonous and wasteful standards for ourselves. We are even willing to send our sons and daughters to die in one foreign conflict after another, for (it seems) any rationale given by ‘the commander in chief’ (whose popularity raises dramatically during ANY military battle). Clearly, sending your own children into harm’s way in distant lands demonstrates that many people ‘love’ big brother more than they care for their own offspring… how sick is that?

That is a pretty impressive list of similarities, even for skeptics… but the fully indoctrinated will have an excuse, explanation, dismissal, etc., readily at hand to avoid even contemplating how far our society has slid down the slippery slope of centralized control. Whereas Orwell’s “Big Brother” was easy to see in a novel, the real McCoy would never be easy to spot… after all, it took 300 years of irrefutable scientific observation before most people stopped believing that the world isn’t flat — and there are some who still believe that it is!

2020 Vision


Given the dramatic increase in centralized controls, and the amazing advances in military and surveillance technologies, what does the future hold for our humanity?

The answer to that question, and the strength of conviction we place in it, will dramatically affect how we act today in an attempt to influence the future. If we think everything will be rosy (at least for our lifetimes), then we are quite likely to go sit on our back porch with a tall cool beverage and not give it a second thought — that choice would serve and please Big Brother (i.e., “The elites behind corporate shields”). If, on the other hand, we think that our worst nightmares are being realized within our lifetimes, then we will choose a more personal and proactive course of action — choices that could actually derail the plans of those greedy and power-hungry elites. Which future do you think the elites want you to believe in? Which future do you think the elites want to see manifested?

Using the modern technologies of ’20/20 foresight’ we can now peer into the world of 2020 (or 2030 or 2040) under various scenarios. For simplicity, let’s look at two alternatives: One which WILL come to pass if we do little to avoid it (“Big Brother”), the other which COULD come to pass if we immediately turn hard on our political-economic rudder (“L&R”, Liberty & Responsibility). We can quibble about the exact date by which certain conditions will be manifested, but the direction our society is headed and the forces driving
us there seem quite clear.

First, the bad news: In 2020, the world of Big Brother has been dramatically simplified by severe reductions in what was formerly called a ‘middle class’. While prostituted economic conditions existed in many “Third World” nations throughout the 20th century, America and Western Europeans are just now coming to understand their new ‘equal’ role in this competitive capitalist world. Those with money and power do not share either unless they are forced. With superior military, surveillance and public control technologies now at their disposal, they are now unlikely to be forced to yield anything — why should they? — and thus continue to consolidate their holdings and controls unabated. The demographics are now: far less than 1% ‘elite’ (income in excess of $200,000, but often more than $10,000,000, in year 2000 dollars); 4-7% ‘administrative’ (earning $40,000 – $200,000 in year 2000 dollars); and 92%-95% ‘service’ sector (earning $10,000 – $25,000 annually), with few if any opportunities to earn between $25,000 – $40,000 per year. You are either “IN” or you are “OUT”, “RICH” or “POOR”, and there is fierce competition to prove your loyalty and subservience in order to earn the small number of ‘petit burgeois’ Administrative posts. Since the destruction of nearly all forms of ‘competition’ opposing capitalist structure (i.e., various forms of socialism, or even a balance of public and private roles) from 1989 – 2008, there has been no economic or political motive for oligopolies to pay anything more than subsistence wages (if that) to the vast majority of the population: There are always many marginally skilled and hungry servants willing to do the work demanded at the wages offered, even to the point of offering ‘incentives’ to Administrators (such as free ‘personal’ services of young daughters and sons) in order to obtain paid work. Most forms of educations (quite expensive and dependant upon each person’s ability to pay) concentrate on the basic skills needed to properly interact with authorities, complete required self-reports and governmental filings, and properly understand the benefits enjoyed under the modern social structure. Un- or under-educated people are deemed unemployable (except as sex workers, as ‘voluntary’ research organisms, or as disposable toxic clean-up ‘rags’): Otherwise, this ‘outclass’ is generally driven into the underground realms of backstreet survival or, since vagrancy is a crime, swept into the forced labor camps of the prison-industrial complex. Although such horrifying conditions existed in various parts of the world in 2002, Americans (as well as ‘middle-class’ citizens of other ‘First World’ industrialized nations) preferred to ignore the reality of their economic structure, believing themselves to be somehow ‘special’ and insulated from such survival economics (this, despite “Grapes of Wrath” and “Matewon” experiences within their own modern history). Thus, these changes have been difficult for United States citizens, who are now earning about the same (in real terms) as the average wage-earner worldwide, while their unemployment rate is now also at the world average of 15% (officially, the unemployment rate is reported as near zero, but the ‘unemployable’ are no longer counted in those figures). U.S. per capita consumption of resources (which topped out at an astounding 7-times the world average at the turn of the millenium) has been reduced to nearly the worldwide average, but given their historical reliance on inefficient and wasteful systems these ‘cutbacks’ have caused tremendous suffering and social unrest in the U.S. Fortunately, the mighty U.S. military continues to act as the main unit of WorldCop on behalf of transnational corporations, and WorldCop troops are multilateral forces representing dozens of historical nation-states, so only non-local troops are used to counter demonstrations and uprisings. Military positions (like all police and security positions) are among the highest paid and most prestigious jobs available in any nation, as are senior governmental and corporate positions. Oil is now officially controlled exclusively for corporate and military purposes. ‘Fresh’ water (actually, reprocessed waste water) is strictly rationed in all major cities. Most wastes (nuclear, petro-chemical, biohazard, etc.) are dumped within regions where populations have proven to be unwilling or unable to provide the types of labor required by modern industry. Since no region wants more unusable labor than it already has, almost no migration of humans is permitted. Even ‘recreational travel’ (affordable by most) is severely restricted without proper permits. Governmental agencies are working diligently to find solutions to the problems of repair and maintenance for sanitation, food, shelter, transportation, heating, cooling, energy and other decaying systems within major cities worldwide, but they admit that the shear number of humans and the severe depletion of resources over the past century has forced humanity into a “Newer World Order” which the people will simply need to learn to live with: We are called “flexible, courageous and resilient” for our willingness and ability to deal with these new conditions. Of course, the relatively small resource requirements of the elite (who are, after all, less than 1% of the population), and their ability to acquire or confiscate whatever resources they desire, allow them to continue to live lives of luxury and decadence unparalleled in history. Maintaining and securing their lofty positions requires only that they provide relatively decent standards of living for a small Administrative class (senior military and police officials, senior research managers, senior finance officials, judges, national and state legislators, and senior production managers) who use the latest technologies to ensure ‘order’.

The elite demonstrate their now unchallengable control in late 2020 by quickly ending a massive popular uprising of angry protestors who stage simultaneous revolts in all major Eastern U.S. cities from Boston to Washington, D.C., mostly a large-scale work stoppage with public ‘anti-government’ rallies. By simply shutting down the main water and energy systems, blockading all transportation corridors leading into or out of these cities, and hovering attack helicopters 24-hours-per-day to secure 33 strategic points, 7 WorldCop ‘Situation Managers’ and about 1,000 multinational troops bring nearly 30 million people to their knees within 23 days (although less than 100,000 actual protestors are involved). As water and food resources are rapidly exhausted within the isolated metropolitan areas, the hordes begin to fight and steal from each other until their ‘flames of arrogance’ begin to burn out. Although self-proclaimed ‘voices of reason’ within the embattled cities beg within the first week for resumed water and energy flows “for the sake of the children”, WorldCop’s Tranquility Czar issues a demand that all organizers and participants must first come forward to the Peace Police, “dead or alive”. This cost citizens 5 crucial days of delay as they first debate, then ultimately track down, subdue and turn over leading protestors. Even after counter-insurgient vigilantes deliver over 900 ‘gang members’ specifically named by authorities, in addition to thousands of other protest participants, Situation Managers maintain the embargoes for an additional 9 days — until infrared satellite studies demonstrate that nearly all human activity has been reduced to laying and crawling. Specific pockets of resistance, where supplies had obviously been stockpiled prior to the revolt, are targeted for “surgical cleansing”. Meanwhile, the Tranquility Czar uses his imposed media blackout to limit news reports to a simple repeated reassurance for the rest of America and the world: “We will eliminate the threat of Homeland Terrorism, with any and all means at our disposal, and will not allow such violence to spill into your home towns.” Later, ‘unofficial’ reports are leaked to the press indicating that, while WorldCop was directly responsible for just 27 deaths, the protestors had caused nearly 350,000 deaths, due to dehydration, starvation, exposure, disease and ‘internal conflicts’. An unnamed source was quoted as saying, “That’s a tragic way to increase everyone’s water ration, but perhaps, in the future, people will keep a closer eye on possible troublemakers among their friends and neighbor .” The 2002 holidays are given special recognition to thank God Almighty, Savior of Society, for providing such a stunning success for the Peace Police.

If this sounds like science fiction, then you may be in denial: Many of the above scenarios (and even worse) already occur around the world under the control of the existing corporate and military elites.

Sleeping Well


There is also the possibility of a brighter future. Forget dreams of Utopia! Let’s simply aim for a humanity which strives to be egalitarian and rational: Let’s construct an inherently balanced system which favors people over corproations, and rewards personal responsibility with individual liberty.

It’s 2020, and, thanks to a surprise mandate by U.S. voters in 2004 (focused on an independant candidate’s successful platform of ‘Liberty & Responsibility’), America has led the world to unparalleled ‘true’ prosperity. At first, of course, the old guard of the multinational elite attempted to ‘starve’ the U.S. of capital in an attempt to assert its power and stave off radical egalitarian changes. This strategy failed, however, when the U.S. led its allies into an era of revolutionary economic re-structuring. First, in response to the blatant extortion attempts of the international capitalists, America’s democratic leaders repealed the Federal Reserve Act, and outlawed all forms of usury (contracts charging or paying interest): henceforth, only borrowed capital would be repaid, without interest; A return (profit) on private investments could only be achieved through at-risk equity shares; instead of borrowing money for public works projects (such as schools, hospitals, self-defense systems, roads, and housing) the people (via their democratic government) would simply print and issue the amount of currency required to pay for these public investments: Such currency would be backed by the same faith and credit previously used to issued bonds and other debt instruments. Corporate laws were also modernized to recognize that human beings have rights and responsibilities, but that corporations are only fictitious creations: Thus, stockholders, officers and directors of corporations were all held directly responsible (on a pro-rata basis) for the collective actions and liabilities of their corporations. For-profit commerce and creative innovation was still highly valued… WHEN it actually paid its own way: That is, when it paid a living wage (so the rest of society did not have to subsidize it), and when it covered all of its cradle-to-grave product costs (again, so the rest of society did not have to subsidize it). Finally, all forms of potential corruption of democracy were made illegal, which meant that “campaign contributions” and other forms of bribery were now the most severe felonies under law, generally treated as treason against humanity. The effect of just these three changes (equity in place of usury, making individuals primary over corporations, and eliminating money from democratic institutions ) brought immediate and dramatic results: Suddenly, only REAL ideas, REAL creativiy, and REAL work were rewarded. Since governments were no longer required to pay interest, old-money capitalists scrambled to negotiate equity investments for their trillions of now-sidelined deposits. Stock markets soared manifold as the bond markets evaporated. Investors paid close attention to the actions of corporation whose stoxk they owned. Millions of new, niche-oriented ventures are springing to life as the old financial choke-points are loosened. Now, in stark contrast to the previous century, most couples are choosing to have just one or two children, while the nuclear family has re-evolved into extended multi-generational families. Modern housing complexes, mixing multi-functional uses of interior space with private gardens and communal amenities (such as barbeques, spas, and exercise and sports equipment), encourage vibrant interactions with neighbors while providing necessary privacy and solitude. These innovative housing developments are designed to be economical and efficient, providing working spaces for the 53% of people now working from or being educated within their own homes, while freeing their owners from the economic slavery associated with 20th century living. For example: Today’s home can be paid off in 10 years at just 20% of a single medium income; Thanks to its use of solar-electric roof panels it produces a net surplus of its total energy requirements, even after completely charging a typical family’s two electric cars; child day care has been replaced by neighborhood cooperatives operated by work-at-home parents taking turns one day every 2 weeks to tutor 20 local children using Visionary educational tools; Nearly every household now grows at least 50% of their food within their own (vegetarian and organic) garden, drawing from the collective wisdom and labor of both extended family and community members; even water use is maximized through roof collection, underground storage, and electric reverse-osmosis purification systems. The resulting savings on mortgage, utility, transportation, day care, and food costs means that a single wage earner now easily supports an extended family (including aging parent-retirees). Since medicine and hazard insurance were nationalized as public investments when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Army Corp of Engineers, the American Medical Association (AMA), and all insurance coporations were merged in 2008, both the costs and efficiencies of these “mandatory” aspects of society have improved tremendously: Not only are citizens spared the massive sales commissions, executive salaries and ‘profits’ previously drained from these systems, but data collection, loss prevention, and fraud prosecution are vastly improved. Our innovative and extensive use of renewable energy sources (especially distributed solar-electric generation) has rendered nuclear, coal and petroleum based energy inefficient, costly, and obviously dirty, so these are no longer even considered as options. Instead, petroleum products (and their dense carbon cousins) are used sparingly as precursors of key medicines, fibers and biochemical research. Between the repeal of laws against ‘consensual acts’ and the increase economic opportunities created, within 10 years of this brave ‘Western Perestroika’ the entire world has witnessed an astounding decreasing in crimes within the general population, allowing society to incarcerate or intensively counsel the 1% – 3% of citizens who are sociopathic and criminally psychotic. Finally, by taxing consumption (via local, state, national and international sales taxes) instead of production (especially labor via an income tax) we have simultaneously unleashed a tidal wave of new conservation ideas AND stimulated the entreprenuerial drive of the 50% of the world’s population which no longer NEEDS to hold a job yet chooses to pursue some form of creative, productive behavior. Since reducing all military investments to effective self-defense systems we were able to cut taxes by 40%, and by collecting tax on the 70% of corporate revenue which previously escaped all forms of taxation we have been able to cut individual taxes by an additional 20%, even while enhancing the education and safety net programs which create our egalitarian society.

While this is not an in-depth exploration of the possibilities enabled by true freedom and creative human spirit, we can begin to see how technology and humanity (given the correct social, political and economic rules) can become our liberating allies rather than our oppressive enemies. Which future would you prefer? Of course, why would the current rulers allow us to have a dream which causes them relative loss?

Summary & Conclusions

As of 2002, there is a preponderance of evidence that something akin to “Big Brother” is alive and well in modern, industrial, capitalistic society. Whether we will actually witness “The Triumph of Big Brother” is completely dependant on our (collective) course of action over the next 20 years… Even more importantly, over the next 2 – 5 years.

There is no reason to just sit there, helplessly denying that those in power intend to increase their wealth and control at our expense. Here are some things you CAN do to change our future:

Demand an egalitarian system of Liberty & Responsibility. When a system’s core values, its rules and even its name are focused on money, then money is god. We need a system focused on humanism, not capitalism. A system where our freedoms and prosperity are based solely on our own acts of creativity, effort and responsibility.

Make Business (especially corporations) pay ALL of their own costs, as well as their fair share of taxes. Wages below the basic cost of living, “Incentives”, protective legislation, and avoidance of pollution clean-up and resource renewal costs are all subsidies routinely provided to for-profit businesses. This is blatant hypocrisy and corruption.

Disarm the Military-Industrial and Prison-Industrial Complexes. Oppression of the people is the ONLY explanation for the massive budgets of the combined military, surveillance, police and prison systems. No true democracy (especially one which claims to be the ‘envy of the world’) needs to spend so much of its resources to maintain power.

Eliminate Laws Against Non-Violent Consensual Acts. No true democracy (especially one promoted as “the home of the free”) needs so many paternalistic laws dictating and regulating nearly every aspect of its citizens’ lives. Save the tough laws for discouraging corporate abuses, counteracting greed, and avoiding ‘the tragedy of the commons’.

Eliminate All Taxes on Income in Favor of Taxes on Consumption. Every economist argues that taxes discourage whatever behavior is being taxed… so a sane society would tax consumption, NOT production. Further, the more wasteful or unnecessary the consumption, the higher the tax should be.

Implement Renewable Energy Systems for 98% of Our Needs. We now have the ability to behave as wisely as plants: We can generate nearly all of our energy needs by capturing sunlight. Photo-Voltaic (PV) electric panels mounted wherever needed can revolutionize our world: Lowering costs and pollution while securely distributing power.

Eliminate the Corrupting Influence of Money in Politics. Bribery is NOT a form of ‘free speech’ protected by the U.S. Constitution anymore than shooting someone is protected by our right to ‘keep and bear arms’. Money corrupts politicians, making true democracy impossible. Media, should be FREE and equal for all ‘qualified’ candidates.

Require Public Ownership and Management of Public Goods & Services. There are a number of areas which are clearly ‘non-competitive’ by nature, such as Insurance, Energy, Medical, Mass Transit, Military and Police, General Education. These should be organized only as public trusts.

Eliminate Usury In Favor of Equity Investment and Debt-Free Currency. Economists and philosophers have understood for at least 2,000 years that usury is a device of enslavement. Private enterprise should be financed via at-risk equity investments. Governments should issue debt-free currency to finance public works investments.

Re-Design Housing and Communities to make them largely Self-Sufficient, Pedestrian-Oriented, Multi-Functional, and Neighborly. Our sprawling, isolated, non-functional suburban developments are doomed to fail on economic, resource and human levels. We know how to make it better. We need the political will.

Certainly we can all tell ourselves another bedtime story, sing a familiar lullaby, and go back to sleep… that is much easier than standing up, being counted as an agent of change, and then acting bravely, yet peacefully and resolutely, to overthrow the greedy elite who are now driving our world toward a nightmarish future, and build a trule egaliatarian democracy more akin to our dreams.

Liberty & Responsibility is an alternative. Let’s live the dream!

Thank you for your attention, interest and concern.

Copyright 2002 Eclectic Properties
Corporation. All rights reserved.
Alter-Nation and Alter-Nation.com are Trademarks and Servicemarks of Eclectic
Properties Corporation. Used here by kind permission.

Artwork of the Month

Artwork of the Month – June 2002

Works are selected for provocative visual, intellectual,
social and/or spiritual content.. Print versions
(suitable for home or office display), with or without professional mounting
and framing, may be available for order as indicated below each display.Eclectic Artists Publishing.

“Do You Have The Time?”

Available as 6″x9″ print suitable
for framing at $18 each
or professionally matted and framed at $75 each.
Order
Now!
Signed by the artist upon request.

About The Art

…to take this peaceful road to a place we’d love to go, with the time we’d like to have, and the feeling of peace we need.

Time is the only thing we will ever have to sell (our labor), but trading it for money costs us our lives. We need to take a mental vacation, give some serious thought regarding what we want to remember when we are on our death bed, and then spend our life’s time accordingly. Focus not on money, but on time. Spend it wisely because we already have as much of it as we ever will, and they is no way to win it back.

Once we do this, our journey down life’s long and winding road will bring us hope, not fear. As a Portugese Brazilian emblazened on a shirt given in thanks to a fellow traveler: Vive E’ Arte! (To Live is Art!)

Copyright 2002 Eclectic Properties Corporation.
All rights reserved.

Poet's Park

Poem of the Month – June 2002

Witness


     
     

Human
Drawn to promises of lies oft re-told
She turns to leave, break free of this heartbreak
Recognize what tender trap such tempting love makes
He charms her, He harms her,
Their history reminds her how she should let go
She needs him, She fears him,
But fears loneliness so much more
She breaks down.
She breaks… She breaks down.

Lawman, or soldier, lays his life on the line.
Freedom. Justice.
We’re overcome by words we’ve chosen to ignore.
Someday, amidst the endless slaughter,
his conscience confides…
“Speak truth: Am I the enemy?”
As the lights flash on and shame wells…
He turns to leave…He turns to leave…

He returns!
“It’s a matter of man’s honor,
its about committing, a vow.”
It’s confusing, foreign,
Does he keep his word or keep his soul?
He breaks down…He breaks down…
He breaks down…He breaks!
He breaks down! She breaks…
She breaks down! He breaks…

Another activist and worker tastes defeat
What number, eh pachuco,
Get lost to your set’s gravity?
No matter the answer, the “chosen path” we can’t believe
Irrational passions,
a two-edged sword of courage and pain
We break down… We break…
We breakdown… We return!

Although we cycle, we are not machines.
Although we cycle, we are not machines (Witness!)
Although we cycle, we are not machines.(Witness!)
Although we cycle, we are not machines.(Witness!)
Although we cycle, we are not, no, no, not machines…

We return.


     
     

Copyright 1999 Dean DiSandro, published and administered by Eclectic Artists Publishing.

ABOUT THE POEM

Healthy psychological development is extremely difficult in this modern world where the salesmen and con-men have thousand ways to bombarb us with confusing messages: About who we are, what is valuable in life, how we can be desirable and loved, how we can become rich, how we can become happy. For many, the inherent contradictions are so confusing that they begin to exhibit an array of neurotic and even schizophrenic behaviors. Consequently, relationships become surreal and twisted. The promise of life as a dream becomes the reality of social nightmare.

The best advice anyone could even give us to aacheive and maintain mental health is this: Always question the motivation behind everything you hear. What do the government officals get for telling you what they do? What does a religious leader stand to gain from his preaching? What is the goal of the soap, beer or auto manufacturer and their advertising agency? What does Rush Limbaugh get for selling (or pandering) his opinions? Who really cares about you? Why?

If that sounds cynical, it’s because we live in a society which is extremely proud to call itself “capitalist” rather than “humanist”. So, of course, nearly everything revolves around economic advantage, and is thus essentially cynical by its very nature.

So, while our flaws are well known, and we do tend to repeat our mistakes in cyclical fashion, we are not machines. We are intelligent beings with the ability to use our minds to change our thoughts and our behaviors. When we decide to take control of our lives and our society we will be able to do so quickly and effectively. Until then, we break down.

 
Copyright 2002 Eclectic Properties Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Alter-Nation and Alter-Nation.com are Trademarks and Servicemarks of Eclectic
Properties Corporation.
Used here by kind permission.

Steal a Song

June 2002

JOIN NOW!     And be
sure to purchase Alter-Nation’s latest CD, Change
the System!. You can also use these links to contact Rockin R Records regarding
recording your music or Eclectic Artists Publishing regarding publishing your songs.

All of My Friends Are Asleep


Download & Play MP3 music file

Say do you have the time?
Something just slipped, now I’m not sure of anyone.
Imagine my surprise:
Asked me to settle down…
What was that famous line?
Studied my lessons too hard:
Practiced the golden rule;
Fought for the underdog;
Took the Good Book at it’s word.
No one suggested I dine with a grain of salt.
Now, I’m awake!

Now, I’m awake!

“Quiet, you’ll disturb the peace.”

Commonly recognized as how we must get along.
All the good men are asleep.
“Comfort is all we want.

Don’t bother anyone.”
But now, I’m awake!

Now, I’m awake!

The light… The light… Shines!
The light… The light…
Streaming into my mind.
Everything’s different now.

How did we get these beliefs?
Cast like a magic spell, TV & Radio.
All of my friends are asleep.
Comfort is all they want.
Won’t bother anyone.

Now, it’s time to wake!
Now, it’s time to wake!

“Quiet, you’ll disturb the peace…”
Commonly recognized as how we must get along.
All of my friends are asleep.
Comfort is all they want.
Won’t bother anyone.

Lyrics copyright 2000 Dean DiSandro.
Fair use excerpts of public speeches by Michael Parenti, Jim Hightower, and Congressmen Tauzin and Schaeffer.

All rights reserved. Used here by kind permission.

About The Song

It’s lonely being a political activist (gadfly?) screaming for social justice in 21st century America. Most folks are happy to turn a blind eye, keep their mouths shut, collect their paychecks and hide from their self-reflection behind rationalizations and justifications. Back in college most of our friends talked-the-talk of idealism and the good fight. But then they got jobs, families, etc., and slowly went off to sleep (“comfort is all they want, won’t bother anyone”). It’s simply much easier to live that way… and besides, so much of the pain is being inflicted on other people in other countries, at least for now. Can co-opted, indoctrinated adults shake-off their haze, kick the habit of those media-injected drugs of apathy, complacency and fear? If not, it doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends…

The alarm clock is ringing. It’s time to rise and shine. Hope you dreamed well and are well rested. Get a hot shower, a cup of joe, some breakfast and then let’s get busy: Join Alter-Nation’s peaceful revolution, and help “Change The System!” starting today.

Buy Alter-Nation’s Change
the System! double-disk, multimedia CD now

Copyright 2002 Eclectic Properties
Corporation. All rights reserved.
Alter-Nation and Alter-Nation.com are Trademarks and Servicemarks of Eclectic
Properties Corporation. Used here by kind permission.

AlterMedia

June 2002

This may be a book, a video program,
an audio program, a lecturer, poet, show or other touring artist, or any other
form of communication which is entertaining, enrichingandeducational.click here
to join now. Have an Alter-Media recommendation?Eclectic Artists Publishing. If your
suggestion is published you will receive ONE Alter-Nation Hour to be used at your
discretion.

Two Classic Books by George Orwell

“1984”and”Animal Farm”


(Musical Bonus: Elton John
“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”)


If you read Orwell’s classics years ago then they are well worth another reading… and if you have never read them, then it is definitely time to discover their power for yourself. Eric Blair (more famous by his pen name, George Orwell) was highly critical of Communism, but considered himself a Socialist. The result is a more honest assessment of the inherent dangers of any government in possession of powerful technologies. Orwell wrote these provocative works just after World War II, at the dawn of the Cold War and modern propaganda battles waged upon the minds of each populace. They are still considered classics not because his specific visions have literally come to pass, but because his analysis of modern politics, power structures and human psyches have proven to be so accurate in general. It’s very spooky.

For example, in “1984”, Orwell describes his nation as one which is “always at war” with other nations which were once trusted friends but are now eternal enemies and vice versa. The leaders (known ‘lovingly’ as “Big Brother”) have perfected manipulative language techniques (“doublethink”, “newspeak”) to help the rulers obscure truth and effectively control the masses by re-writing history to suit their purposes (today, of course, we have a variation widely acknowledged as ‘spin doctoring’). The plot synopsis is thus: “Winston, a worker at the Ministry of Truth has a job falsifying records for the Party. Secretly subversive, he and his colleague Julia try to free themselves from political slavery but the price of freedom is betrayal. Newspeak, Doublethink, Big Brother, the Thought Police – George Orwell’s world-famous novel coined new and potent words of warning for us all.”

Similarly, while our livestock have not mounted a revolution ala “Animal Farm”, various factions within our society DO exhibit many of the personal and political traits of these ‘fictional’ animals. The Pigs who take over, with the help of the military attack Dogs, initially sell the masses on a slogan, “All animals are created equal”, to win support for their coup, later adding the end tag “… but some are more equal than others” to justify why so many riches flow to the ruling class Pigs.

Any reader who is not in total denial will immediately notice the eerie parallels between the societies Orwell describes and our own modern world… leading, of course, to the realization that we have moved too far down the path Orwell warned us about over 50 years ago. Prescient, frightening, and (hopefully) motivating.

Fortunately, both “1984” and “Animal Farm” are available in various audio book, movie, and video forms so you can still easily challenge the minds of those who absolutely refuse to read anything but the sports page.

MUSICAL BONUS

Elton John, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”


“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (1973) is not only the definitive work of Elton John’s long musical career, but it is also a wonderful representation of the typically subtle and insightful social commentary of lyricist Bernie Taupin.

The title track paints a stark picture of a modern relationship which reminds us that “We are not in Kansas anymore, Toto”. The overarching metaphor provides an apt envelope for the diverse contents of this 18-song CD: As we (collectively and individually) grow-up, we pull back the curtain on the wizard to learn that we can control our nightmares, simultaneously losing our most fanciful childhood dreams. The bittersweet result is a real world where happiness is possible if we are willing to work for it; if we are able to appreciate the common gifts that surround us every day; if we are able tap into the brain, heart, and courage already inside us in order to make our way back home. As the chorus line goes: “I finally decided my future lies beyond the Yellow Brick Road.”

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” has such an abundance of catchy tunes that E.J. still enjoys airplay royalties from at least 6 songs on this album. Love it for the music, cherish it for the stories.

Copyright 2002 Eclectic Properties Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Alter-Nation and Alter-Nation.com are Trademarks and Servicemarks of Eclectic
Properties Corporation. Used here by kind permission.