The Myth of Real Democracy and Other Myths of Modernity.

By Brian V Peck

One of the most savage critiques of Modernity ever written on so-called Democracy (in its many forms), Meritocracy, What is Truth - Fact or Fiction, the Mass Media and Individualism.


Meaning in essence that Socrates famous axiom is as relevant today as it was in the past, which was according to Plato: that the unexamined life is not worth living.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Aug 24, 2011
• ISBN: 9781481790536

Brian V Peck

Brian was born 62 years ago in Port Stanley (the capital)… Falklands Islands attended the Darwin Boarding School near Goose Green for six years riding on horseback to get there and started working in September 1962 for the Treasury Department in the capital, as a junior clerk. In June 1964 he came to the UK by sea with his stepfather Mother and Brother. Over the last 48 years he has done many jobs and intellectual pursuits, which included nine years in the Royal Air Force (1966-1975)…being posted to Cyprus and Belgium for a total of five years while serving for Queen and country in this period of time. He also has a Social Science degree with honours from Wolverhampton University, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from University of Wales College of Cardiff and a Postgraduate diploma from University of the West of England. He is also very well travelled having now put his feet on every continent in the world…totalling about 40 different countries, in all. He has three grown up children and two grandsons…he now lives in Bristol and this is his fourth published book.

Book preview

© 2011 by Brian V Peck. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 04/04/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4567-8881-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9053-6 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgements & Preface

‘We Will, We Will, We Will Be Free’

Introduction And Several Themes Highlighted

Chapter One—Part One       THE MYTH OF REAL DEMOCRACY

Chapter Two—Part Two       THE MYTH OF REAL DEMOCRACY

Chapter Three       TWO CASE STUDIES ON THESE PROCESSES

Chapter Four       CLASS & THE MYTH OF MERITOCRACY

Chapter Five       THE MYTH OF TRUTH: FACT OR FICTION

Chapter Six       THE MYTH OF IMPARTIALITY IN THE MASS MEDIA

Chapter Seven       THE MYTH OF INDIVIDUALISM

Notes And References

Bibliograph And Sources

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For Robert.

Acknowledgements & Preface

Again I would like to thank Authorhouse for accepting me as an author and publishing this project. Also Paul Kingdon for doing a wonderful job of inspiring the cover project—Ian Nicholls, Martin Tabb, and Edmund Brooks for proof reading several of the chapters with special mention to Edmund who I have been lucky enough to have an intellectual cut and thrust debates and arguments about this epoch, over several years… . but whose logic does not exist in the known Universe. Noting that this book was researched and written over a ten year period and may be the reason I have spent so much time/effort on the concept of Democracy and its related dynamics. Because there is very little democracy in most countries in the world when structured in there present form of Modernity as Noam Chomsky correctly suggests especially about the work place. ‘A business or a big corporation is a fascist structure internally. Power is at the top. Orders go from top to bottom. You either follow the orders or get out’ (Chomsky 1994 seventh edition 1997). This is not to say that every businessman is a ruthless thug because at least a few like Simon who runs his own small transport business in Bristol appeared to me after speaking to him for over an hour was a sort of saint, (which I can only say has been confirmed over the last few months, while working part-time for Simon) who was helping people for nothing or very little especially in Eastern Europe when at the same time being a hard nosed businessman because of the dynamic tension built into the epoch when wages are taken out of profits. Also this project may also appear a little disjointed in places, which includes some of it first researched and used in my first book in chapters on Meritocracy and the Mass Media? But hopefully my critique of Religion and its possible demise in the Western World this century and my proposition of how to save Capitalism from itself by increasing ‘aggregate demand’, so helping too ‘spreading the wealth around’ (Barack Obama’s assertion) in a new paradigm may help this project to go down in history. So please read it in full if you have an inquiring mind!

‘The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one’ quoted in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

‘We Will, We Will, We Will Be Free’

(George Loveless)

‘Without hope of being listened to, with the certainty of being persecuted, true to the commitment I took up a long time ago, to bear witness in difficult times’ Rodolfo Walsh. (Quoted in Klein 2007)

‘An orange is for squeezing; when you’ve drunk the juice, you throw it away’. What Frederick the Crown Prince of Prussia may have said about the great Voltaire—behind his back (in Selected Writings).

Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that: ‘everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching practise, worship and observance’ . . . Article 23 (4) assets that ‘everyone has the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests’ . . . quoted in Chomsky 1999 (1994).

THE MYTH OF REAL DEMOCRACY

AND OTHER MYTHS OF MODERNITY.

BRIAN V PECK

Introduction And Several Themes Highlighted

"Two IRS agents were travelling through a rural area when their car broke down. They walked to a nearby mansion and knocked on the door. A beautiful widow answered and said that they were welcome to spend the night while her hired hands worked on the car. Months later one of the agents received a package of legal documents. After surveying the contents, he quickly called the other agent. ‘When we were up in the country’ the first agent asked ‘did you slip away in the night and go to the widow’s bedroom’ ‘yes’ the second agent admitted. ‘Did you use my name?’ ‘Why yes but how’d you find out?’ ‘She died and left me her estate’. (Brunvand—1999 p, 88) (1)

As any Social Scientist worth his salt will tell you, the ‘facts do not always speak for themselves’. Hence throughout this discourse the main objective of this exercise—is to challenge many taken for granted assumptions of not only how the Western World work in theory, but also in practise and for that matter most of the 200 Nation states in the world. It is also the role of our discipline to explode ‘myths and misconceptions about social phenomena and institutions, & in providing a context in which controversial issues can be examined critically and analytically’ (2). Also as Socrates apparently said through Plato’s pen: ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’, which I agree completely and should be an axiom of us all to understand, through out life’s treacherous roads and stormy seas, in all epochs. Therefore, this endeavour will not only be about the small myths like toothbrushes in private parts (2a), when away on holiday trips and promiscuity rewards, as above—but also about why only 50 years ago; ‘35%’ of the British people believed that the Queen had been chosen by God and apparently she still does. So to my mind still one of the most surrealist countries in the whole world, to live and work because as we shall see it is very unlikely that if everyone was at least educated to shall we say ‘A level’ and above that anyone would ever vote for ruthless capitalism its present form—not only in the UK but anywhere in the whole world because of its complete insanity and madness as a social system, where a very small percentage of the population gets everything and the rest very little. In the USA we now have middle class academics shooting dead other academics which must take this form of insanity to a higher level.

According to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English a Myth is a: traditional story usa involving supernatural or imaginary persons and embodying poplar ideas on natural or social phenomena etc and (1) Mythology is the body of myths or (2) the study of myths. Thus, myths would appear to have been around for as long as man has been on the planet. Who has evolved of millions of years, if Richard Leakey is correct (3), perhaps as long as 7 million in one form or another and we know for certain that: human beings, genetically identical to us, have existed for something like 500,000 years (4). That static civilisation, the complete opposite to the true state of nature as hypothesised by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (5)—is probably no more than ‘10,000’ years old and in Britain according to Bryan Walter no more than 6,500 years old (6). Marx’s & Engel’s have suggested in the Communist Manifesto that it was at this stage that ‘class struggle’ was socially constructed as a man made concept, in a very similar way to Rousseau if we think about in a rational manner. Noting that if you were not aware Rousseau died in 1778 and Marx was born in 1818. I should also note here that Rousseau is probably despised in conservative circles to this day, as much as Marx is now. He may have not been the father of the French revolution but was certainly admired by some of the factions at the time. I would also suggest that he was a true democrat; true power should be in the hands of everyone and not just a few; which is why the ‘hard right’ and others so despises him right up to this day. Social control was certainly linked to religious dogmas at the time of Stonehenge in Britain; where in a recent TV programme it was even suggested—that the ‘priest class’ might have been able to control the majority by light & sound (7): as they do now with very similar processes, but it is now called TV images? Or perhaps, we could say paraphrasing Marx that TV is the new ‘opium of the masses’, unfortunately even in a so-called secular society religion is still a very powerful controlling force for the unthinking majority, and amazingly may be on the wane in of all places—the USA (8).

Australian Aborigines who may have lived in peace and harmony for at least 60,000 years or maybe ‘150,000 years’ (9) before the white man ever landed there, believed in a mythical world—which is closely related to their natural environmental. The rituals involved the entire local community taking part to promote solidarity within the group and took care of the environment around them as not only was it a source of food but also the pharmacy. In Africa very similar beliefs exist from spirit in woods, plants and animals. The link to animals seems very important to many African cultures—, as when Humans and the animals’ kingdom separated, man became evil. The animal kingdom stayed pure—hence; the rituals with animals that link the past and present. The Druids believe system is also related to the tradition of the land—when Caesar landed in Britain in 55BC he was very amused by the Druids and their belief systems. He was also amused, by how the indigenous tribes, the ‘barbarians’ coloured themselves in woad when going into battle (10)—although probably most Romans never questioned their worship of pagan Gods. Not forgetting that Caesar was not very successful at conquering Britain in 55BC and nearly failed the first time or sometime later when the local tribes did not take to being over-run buy a new power in the Land. As they would today about a crude crass dogma—that Iain Duncan Smith’s Centre for Social Justice can ever tell the truth about which Government in Little Britain caused one of the most unequal societies in the world (sic) to emerge in the epoch of Modernity, after 18 years of miss-rule, up until 1997.

All Cultures, it would seem in every epoch invents beliefs and myths to help ease the pain and strain of the group and now perhaps on their way out because of globalisation, which will help to create new myths. But if only we can become better educated and see through them, I would suggest we may have a better world. This is an historical fact of evolution and since the birth of static civilisation believes and myths have had to take new forms. In Egypt the Pharaohs were literally Gods themselves even to this day in Britain many working class people still believe that the Royal family are at the top of some ‘natural order’, this may also apply to some of the less educated ‘middle class’ as well, for example Kate Middleton’s mum. Aristotle also believed in a very similar world, so perhaps we should not be so hard on the unthinking majority. And like most men, even Aristotle, one of the most famous persons that ever lived who first suggested that the study of politics was the ‘Master Science’. He also seems to have had a weakness for the female form, like most of us, especially ‘luscious Phyllis’. Apparently ‘half demented with desire, Aristotle agreed to let her ride him like a horse if she agreed to sleep with him’ (11). I hope that it was worth it? Well I have slept with several Aphrodite’s around the globe and they were all worth it. But so far none of them has rode me like a horse! But I will let it happen if I become as famous as Aristotle, in the next few centuries, so the Man in the Moon told me!

Rudyard Kipling’s brilliant short story of the Man who would be King and made in to a movie in the 1970’s was probably very similar to how the Pharaohs made their subjects believe in myths. In this specific case a British soldier makes the masses believe that he is immortal, with a little bit of luck and pure chicanery… . and made into one of sir Sean Connery’s better movies of the 1970’s. A very similar process to the myth that the British army was invincible in the 19th century, when at the battle of Isandhlwana in 1879 (22 January)—20,000 Zulu’s wiped out over 1000 British soldiers with spares and clubs. Never forgetting that as we all know Katie Price a British model whose ancestors may have been in this battle has written her own books and made an absolute fortune from them and through this process and can afford a 6000 pound (sterling) meal with the Polo set (mostly from the upper class). But apparently she was rejected (12) because she was ‘not the sort of person they wanted’ or just another myth of Modernity, like the ones above and below? In fact she may have been one of the very clever girls who out performed boys between 1968—1986, but I would have thought very unlikely? (Letter to the Guardian 13th August 2008, by Victoria Beckham err sorry Victoria Dutchman-Smith of Cheltenham no less—re-girls always are clever then boys in GCSE’s, surly not true is it?). Who may in fact be employed by MI5 if the Guardian (7th January 2009) is correct if she went to the ‘Cheltenham Ladies College’. Like many rightwing academics, journalists and other riff raff of the British secret State again if the Guardian is correct there are thousands of informers being paid hundreds and perhaps thousands of pounds in cash, for their services. Matilda Gifford known as Tilly was propositioned by the Strathclyde police to spy for them. For months ‘Plane stupid’ her particular direct action group had been concerned that the police had been trying to infiltrate their network, hence the reason that this young women and her pals tape-recorded her conversions with the police (13). But what is so pathetic about this little story is that if you unemployed in Little Britain and work when unemployed—it is against the law of the Land—but apparently being paid when unemployed for spying on your follow man is not, this being one of the many contradictions of the epoch we now call modernity and only really applies to the ‘working class’.

This however may also be a contradiction when it comes to the Egyptians (see above): because apparently the concept of Maat, which means the ‘truth righteousness, justice and divine harmony’, was part of their major believe system. This may seem strange, as the Egyptians used a calendar very similar as today—they also used a form of alphabet and their art and architecture were admired & copied by the Creeks and Romans (14). Also William Harrison in 1577, explained in the Description of England a natural order ordained by God (the church)—Gentleman, the citizens & burgesses of the towns, the yeoman of the countryside and fourthly the last a group as diverse as labourers, poor husbandmen, some retailers, shoemakers, carpenters, brick-makers and masons. Who had either voice or authority and who where to be ruled over, by others (15)? Even sitting in the correct pews in the church had a natural order, in 1637, in Tisbury in Wiltshire, according to the same source. Just over three hundred & fifty years later, I am tuned into BBC Radio 4 four, listening to a live outside broadcast from St Martins in the field, from Trafalgar square, in London—celebrating ascension day which apparently 2000 years ago, was the day that Christ went to heaven. In this programme on one of the most respected and so-called objective radio stations in the country/world, the preacher said that Jesus was: ‘ascending into heaven ‘, he was ‘going to the right hand side of God’, he was taken up too heaven—this is the ‘body and blood of your son’, that ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’ and he was the saviour of the world. But of course what is so ironic about this phenomenon is that most Jews don’t believe that the Messiah has come yet where Christians believe that he has already been and may come again according to some derivates of this rubbish/tosh.

Therefore, what is so surprising in a so-called scientific age of Modernity: where we know for certain that there are billions of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy and billions of Galaxies in the known Universe and that ‘Knowledge is Power’? Probably with billions of planets and may be billions of animal life, in different forms,—is why so many billions of people, should still believe in the myth of God and other derivatives of this concept. Even in the USA today; at least 100 million believe that man first walked on the earth only ‘5742 year’ ago as suggested in the bible—along with all the other animals that has ever existed—or was it days? A very unlikely premise as Homo sapiens would have walked with Dinosaurs; no doubts we would have made a very pleasant snack for a Tyrannosaurus Rex, or Megalosaurus. A very close relative, who so it seems could run at about 20 miles per hour around the leafy lanes of Oxfordshire, at least 163 million years ago, just before the dreaming spires were erected I presume—but in essence a complete myth. It may also seem incredible but apparently ‘53%’ of all Americans also believe that baseball is played in heaven and in Baltimore it may be more (16). Thank God however (metaphorically speaking of course) that even Epicurus of Samos (342—270 BC.) understood that peace of mind comes from the freedom from fear and the two worst fears for most are/were religion and death, Lucretius also had similar believes. And as long ago as the 17th century Sir Isaac Newton (1642—1727) asserted that there was no place for religion in such an epoch. Religion in its current disguises like the past—takes many forms: from, as just noted the so-called natural order, to reincarnation in the Buddhist and Hindus believes which helps to legitimise the caste system. Many have been refined and updated for modern times, along with a mixture of old and new brought together—this applies especially where Colonialism was imposed on indigenous people around most of the globe. The priesthood and bureaucracies that help to legitimise most religious are quite a recent phenomenon. The Inca priesthood and rulers took social control and absolute power of there believes system to new highs of cruelty; where many were killed daily to please the Gods. What a brilliant method of keeping the masses in order? The paradox to this phenomenon is beyond belief, a very small example may enlighten our senses, and especially considering that in most developed countries education is now a compulsory process. In 1401 Henry 1V, of England passed the heresy act; suggesting that if you were caught reading the bible you could be burned at the stake (a regular occurrence for centuries for witches & dissenters) and should never be published in English. When in the fifteen century William Tyndale (1494—1536) published the bible at Worms in English, with added notes critiquing the Monarchy, the British State murdered him. The so-called word of God was only to be read and interpreted by the priests and no else. Very few; seem to understand that writing is no more than 5000 years old, or just over and that only Homo sapiens can put pen to paper and write something, well have you ever seen a Penguin do it? And through this process others can read those words and try to interpret them in a meaningful way, even if most it is a pack of lies. But at least Wittgenstein got one axiom right, which as he noted was that: ‘the limits of my language is the limits of my world’. This applies especially in a complex epoch like ours where it is quite easy for the ruling class to hoodwink the majority, very easily! The idea that there were ‘weapons of mass destruction’ in Iraqi was a very good example how they tried too tell a huge lie but was found out, too late unfortunately. Using language forms that may be incompressible to the vast majority of the world’s populations and their own perception of social reality, as I note throughout this discourse; laissez-faire economics within the parameters of aggregates and markets is a good example of what I mean… while at the same time proselytising Individualism as the major belief system too the masses. However Tyndale was not the only person in history to suffer if he should say something/write/think outside of the limits of the time but this also happened to the only women we know of who was a mathematician in antiquity—she was called Hypatia of Alexandria who upset some Christian’s fanatics who murdered her in A. D. 415 because I presume—like now they where afraid of progressive forces and not very well educated, too boot!