Interestingly, it is claimed that Orwell named his book “1984” as homage to the 100th anniversary of the Fabian Society. Great article (again) nice bonus piece to the puzzle about Laurel Canyon, thanks
Outstanding research and reporting, thank you so much for your work. You have concisely articulated an essential thread of world history of the last 150 years that I think almost nobody understands and EVERYONE should.
That is an almost ridiculous number of useful clues, for my own odd autodidact education especially. I read Darwin Russell (and Welles) like crazy as a kid, discovered Laski and Weiner as a teenager. (Weiner's "Human use of human beings" struck me as the operative equivalent of Machiavelli, for the modern world - quantum influenced calculus, for the manipulation of whole populations, rather than individuals - don't worry about the particle, be what collapses the eigenstate!).
I find Russel a massive contradiction, to this day. How to reconcile the aspiration to anarchy (self-governance as an ideal) with managerial dominance, the height of elitism and exploitation? Your quotes from him, about the differing education which should be offered to the rulers and the ruled, are devastating. Hugely appreciated.
Suddenly I think of a magician's patter - "listen to my story, don't watch my hands!"
As for Wholstetter - the headmaster of the very experrimental school I attended, was of that exact class of systems geeks. So I am forever encountering things I did as a kid, which were also common pastimes at RAND. (Surreal, but also unmistakable in both tone and specifics)
In terms of my personal questioning (and I understand you and Matt are several evolutions ahead of me, here), I keep coming back to the split I first felt with both scientific socialists and especially Trotskyists, as a young idealistic teenager (almost half a century ago).
The idea of a 'program' makes perfect sense, if you want to gather together in order to change society. But in almost every case, what I observed was the adoption of whatever program suited the particular (borderline sociopathic) excesses of the individual.
That is - nothing actually sourced from deep humane principle, fairness, or respect - unhinged ego only. Never could get with that much unkindness, or dishonesty.
Really enjoy your work. Mustn't say "Negation of negation" but you and Matt help me untangle a lot of sentimental impulses, from irrationalities, by showing the power serving distortions so often overlooked, by pabulum (corporate?) history.
Interestingly, it is claimed that Orwell named his book “1984” as homage to the 100th anniversary of the Fabian Society. Great article (again) nice bonus piece to the puzzle about Laurel Canyon, thanks
Outstanding research and reporting, thank you so much for your work. You have concisely articulated an essential thread of world history of the last 150 years that I think almost nobody understands and EVERYONE should.
Thank you for this, Cynthia!
That is an almost ridiculous number of useful clues, for my own odd autodidact education especially. I read Darwin Russell (and Welles) like crazy as a kid, discovered Laski and Weiner as a teenager. (Weiner's "Human use of human beings" struck me as the operative equivalent of Machiavelli, for the modern world - quantum influenced calculus, for the manipulation of whole populations, rather than individuals - don't worry about the particle, be what collapses the eigenstate!).
I find Russel a massive contradiction, to this day. How to reconcile the aspiration to anarchy (self-governance as an ideal) with managerial dominance, the height of elitism and exploitation? Your quotes from him, about the differing education which should be offered to the rulers and the ruled, are devastating. Hugely appreciated.
Suddenly I think of a magician's patter - "listen to my story, don't watch my hands!"
As for Wholstetter - the headmaster of the very experrimental school I attended, was of that exact class of systems geeks. So I am forever encountering things I did as a kid, which were also common pastimes at RAND. (Surreal, but also unmistakable in both tone and specifics)
In terms of my personal questioning (and I understand you and Matt are several evolutions ahead of me, here), I keep coming back to the split I first felt with both scientific socialists and especially Trotskyists, as a young idealistic teenager (almost half a century ago).
The idea of a 'program' makes perfect sense, if you want to gather together in order to change society. But in almost every case, what I observed was the adoption of whatever program suited the particular (borderline sociopathic) excesses of the individual.
That is - nothing actually sourced from deep humane principle, fairness, or respect - unhinged ego only. Never could get with that much unkindness, or dishonesty.
Really enjoy your work. Mustn't say "Negation of negation" but you and Matt help me untangle a lot of sentimental impulses, from irrationalities, by showing the power serving distortions so often overlooked, by pabulum (corporate?) history.
Cheers for what you do!
¯\_(ツ)_/¯