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the unwashed masses

created by Monk-E

(idea) by Bantik (3.3 mon) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Thu Sep 28 2000 at 16:20:06

For the sake of maintaining status quo in a representative democracy, especially in times such as these in which the possibility of direct democracy is entirely technologically feasible, it behooves the state to maintain and propagate the meme of the general public being ignorant, incapable, and generally offensive. A term such as the unwashed masses is an important weapon in such a memetic assault on the collective consciousness of the nation.

(idea) by themusic (6.7 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Thu Sep 28 2000 at 17:28:52

Technical feasibility of direct democracy ignores the fact that the homeless are unable to use any of the wonders of technology.

Even for people who have homes, there is still the digital divide; those who have difficulty meeting rent, and affording basic telephone connections, will not use computers.

Don't get me wrong, I am an advocate of democracy, but I am aware of the transformations television, and even radio have wrought on democracy, not all of them for the better.

It is the oligarchy, more than the government, which is its creature, that has manipulated this meme, and others, to frighten and bribe us into subscribing to another meme, among others, that we MUST accept technological solutions to problems that lie at 90 degrees to technology, and are the province, rather, of political economy--but who has ever heard of political economy.


printable version
chaos

How to entertain unwashed masses on little or no money voweldom How to get more donations for Everything Laundry should be free
Infinite monkeys theorem nobrow Is God a Dork? Meme
political economy Most men lead lives of quiet desperation The Republic oligarchy
Digital divide Songwriter nice guy Currency of the World
To the Muses David and Goliath The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation On conspicuous consumption
The Year of Our Lord The Moldy Peaches Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater John Milton
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