Thursday, August 31, 2006

We're all going on a Soma Holiday

So our great leader has decided it's time to move to the next stage. He's suggested that social exclusion should be tackled through pre-emptive government intervention at an early stage. Very early. Like pre-birth early.

Any guesses what his Fordship read by the pool this summer?
A squat grey building of only thirty-four storeys. Over the main entrance the words, CENTRAL LONDON HATCHERY AND CONDITIONING CENTRE, and, in a shield, the World State's motto, COMMUNITY, IDENTITY, STABILITY.
- Brave New World, Chapter 1
Looks like he's found a new instruction manual.

By the way, after waxing lyrical on the new solutions he wants to implement for eleven and a half minutes (full interview available from the Beeb's article), he says:
I know we are... intervening in an area that is very, very difficult. There are many really hard question about that. That's why we're at the stage, if you like, of having a debate about it but my own judgement is...
And then off he goes again. In other words, this is the debate we'll be having and this is the conclusion it will reach. Classic Blair in every way.

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8 comments:

Blair said...

I live very close to the border with Mexico , where it is rather easy to purchase medications that require a prescription in the USA. I had a friend who used to bring back Soma as gifts and sang the praises of "Souvenir Soma"... perhaps, that is what is at play here?

septicisle said...

He has to go. This shit has to stop.

Garry said...

Blair, cripes. I didn't even know that there was a real drug called Soma, never mind that people could take an actual "Soma holiday". I wonder what Huxley would have made of that?

Can't resist pointing out that this is probably my favourite post title ever. I do wonder if anyone has even heard of Cliff Richard (Blair's holiday buddy) over there though? He sang a song called Summer Holiday once.

While googling I also found some handy Soma quotes from the book for anyone interested.

Mr Eugenides said...

Damn you, Hamster, I thought "Womb Raider" was a good post title, but you've raised the bar triumphantly for us all.

No doubting who the Alpha is today.

Unknown said...

Fantastic headline!

Rachel said...

Aha, just what I thought, and blogged about, but you say it very well so I am linking you.

Rachel said...

and your post title rules

Unknown said...

Soma may have been Amanita muscaria according to Gordon Wasson but McKenna prefers the idea that it was psilocybin. The Blair junta has of course made this substance illegal.