Writers, even non sci-fi ones, who want to infer a dystopian future or society signal that by setting the story in a far off time. There are exceptions. William Morris’s very opposite of dystopian News from Nowhere is set in 2102.
Metropolis the German Fritz Lang of 1927 is set in 2026. Ray Bradbury’s 1950 There Will Come Soft Rains about nuclear destruction and its aftermath in California is set in 2026.
Anyone wishing for a peaceful New Year is already on a sticky wicket. The Russian/Ukrainian conflict continues with there still remaining some doubt as to whether a decapitation strike was attempted on President Vladimir Putin just before the old year’s close. The odds of a major flare up in the Middle East are astronomically high. There are flashpoints all over the place just waiting to burst out into open battle.
One of the most dangerous states in the world, one perusing capitalist ends with military force to achieve its aims of taking and controlling resources, looking to extend its geopolitical power and attempting to squash other capitalist competitors, is the USA. Its illegal attack upon Venezuela and its elected President is just another oil and other resources grab. Whether nationalism will rear it head and resistance will occur from within or whether the population sigh with relief and embrace, even if not enthusiastically, the puppet regime the Americans impose on Venezuela remains to be seen.
Whatever the outcome the circumstances of the vast majority will remain unaltered: continued exploitation by a ruling property owning class, and assets and wealth transferring to a powerful minority.
No comments:
Post a Comment