Comments on: Peering into the future part 2

By: Golem XIV - Thoughts

Golem XIV - Thoughts — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:34:50 +0000

It is allegedly the book that inspired Orwell. WE was written in 1921, is very easy to read and is brilliant. It has often been mis-read in the West as being a critique of Stalinist Russia. When in fact Zamyatin wrote it as a critique of the West.

In my opinion it critiques both equally well. As such I think it is subversively relevant to today.

If you read it, I'd be interested to know what you make of it.

By: Fuck The Government

Fuck The Government — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:02:02 +0000

"A very clever chap. A wonderful book. Have you ever read WE by Zamyatin?"

I sure haven't but my interest is definitely piqued – how readable is it, what I admire about Nineteen Eighty-Four is not only is it hauntingly relevant to this day it’s actually a bloody good read.

By: Golem XIV - Thoughts

Golem XIV - Thoughts — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:10:00 +0000

A very clever chap. A wonderful book. Have you ever read WE by Zamyatin?

By: Fuck The Government

Fuck The Government — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:28:58 +0000

"If it once became general, wealth would confer no distinction. It was possible, no doubt, to imagine a society in which wealth, in the sense of personal possessions and luxuries, should be evenly distributed, while power remained in the hands of a small privileged caste. But in practice such a society could not long remain stable. For if leisure and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings who are normally stupefied by poverty would become literate and would learn to think for themselves; and when once they had done this, they would sooner or later realize that the privileged minority had no function, and they would sweep it away. In the long run, a hierarchical society was only possible on a basis of poverty and ignorance." THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF OLIGARCHICAL COLLECTIVISM by Emmanuel Goldstein (the 'book within a book', Nineteen Eighty-Four)

Clever chap, George Orwell.

By: Golem XIV - Thoughts

Golem XIV - Thoughts — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 11:15:08 +0000

thesleeperawakes,

That is great. I really like it. A good practical first step. Agree about not wanting to create an above-parliament expertocracy but it is a start.

Thank you for letting me know about it.

By: thesleeperawakes

thesleeperawakes — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 08:47:43 +0000

Hi Golem,

Keep up the good work! What do you think about this movement? I don't agree with handing power to the BoE but it is a start.

http://www.bankofenglandact.co.uk/