Dream No More.

I have been watching the so-far excellent BBC Documentary ‘The Power of Nightmares’. I have only seen the first two episodes and will wait for the conclusion to discuss the theories presented by Adam Curtis. The program’s introduction might give you an idea of what it is about.

In the past, politicians promised to create a better world. They had different ways of achieving this, but their power and authority came from the optimistic visions they offered their people. Those dreams failed and today people have lost faith in ideologies. Increasingly, politicians are seen simply as managers of public life, but now they have discovered a new role that restores their power and authority. Instead of delivering dreams, politicians now promise to protect us: from nightmares.

This introduction sounds awfully close to some universal truth in today’s world – not only in the U.S., but also in Europe (the recent campaign over the European Constitutional Treaty in France is a good illustration). Througt different shapes, it seems to outline the general trend in Western societies.

More later....