Static Airwaves Songtext
von Mount Florida

Modern industrial civilisation has developed
Within a certain system of convenient myths
The driving force of modern industrial
Civilisation has been individual material gain
Which is accepted as legitimate and praiseworthy on
The grounds that private vices yield public benefits
In the classic formulation
Now it has long been understood that a society
Based on this principle will destroy itself in time
It can only persist with whatever suffering and injustice it entails
As long as it is possible to pretend that the
Destructive forces that humans create are limited
That the world is an infinite resource
And that the world is an infinite garbage can
At this stage of history one of two things is possible
Either the general population will take control of its own destiny
And will concern itself with community
Interests guided by values of solidarity
And sympathy and concern for others


Or, alternatively, there will be no destiny for anyone to control
As long as some specialised class is in a position of authority
It is going to set policy in special interests that it serves
But the conditions of survival, let alone justice
Require rational social planning in the
Interests of the community as a whole
And by now that means the global community
The question is whether privileged elites
Should dominate mass communication
And should use this power as they tell us they must
Namely to impose necessary illusions
To manipulate and deceive the stupid majority
And remove them from the public arena
The question is whether democracy and
Freedom are values to be preserved
Or threats to be avoided
In this possibly terminal phase of human existence
Democracy and freedom are more than values to be treasured
They may well be essential to survival