Book review: Newspeak in the 21st Century by David Edwards and David Cromwell

Hi Anthony - I think you would have a point if the participatory models that I advocate were the product of conventional wisdom - but they are not. 

I have written about the connection between consciousness and institutions here - http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/21167

I have also written a review of Newspeak in the 21st Century -http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/22783#13524

Dear Mark, I'm reading the book at the moment. I have not got to the last chapter, yet.

Wasn't it Einstein who said you can't solve a problem with the same level conconsciousness by which it was created? It seems to me that you can create models until the cows come home but they won't work unless  the level of  consciousnessnes is changed The only writer I am aware of who deals with both sides of the poblem adequately is the intellectual/mystic Aldous Huxley. In his last novel Island,  he outlines a society whch is both rationally and compassionately designed.

I agree that "Newspeak in the 21st Century" is an important book but don't you think that, given that the fundamental problem is identified as systemic to the economy,  the final chapter would have been better if it actually offered an alternative economic model rather than a means of individual enlightenment? 

Journalists of Pravda were OPENLY supporters of the state , while "free media" is a big sham. Lenin about 100 years ago noted that there is NOT such thing as "non-patizan" media, so to be openly partizan is a honest bihevior, and to serve capitalism pretending not to is a dishonest one.