Blair plans new 'Ministry of Truth' for the post-spin era

[UpInArms]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=438772

A new "Department of Truth" headed by a top- ranking civil servant is to be set up in Whitehall after the departure of Tony Blair's leading spin- doctor, Alastair Campbell.

The decision to appoint a new Permanent Secretary in charge of the entire government communications network will be part of an effort to end damaging publicity about the role of politically appointed "spin-doctors".

But one rumour causing grim amusement in Whitehall is that the brain behind the strategy is Peter Mandelson, the former Labour Party communications director who is credited with being the first of the new wave of spin-doctors when he worked for the party in the 1980s.

...more...

too Orwellian for me :crazy:

[Alexander]

1. Wasn't this Department in 1984?

I swear I remember hearing about something like this in that book.

[UpInArms]

5. a book review of "1984"

can be found here: http://www.jandys.addr.com/sfbooks/1984.html

Winston Smith works for The Party. He works in the Department of Truth. His job is to rewrite past editions of the Times and other publications so the past matches the present. The Party and Big Brother are the ultimate authority and glory for the inhabitants of Oceania. Yet Smith questions in his mind. Outwardly, he is the perfect Party member. Inwardly, he rebels. Then he meets Julia. Now he has a reason to carry through on some of his smaller ideas of resistance to The Party.

I have known the premise of this novel since I was a child. I knew what the phrase "Big Brother is Watching You" meant long before I understood politics. But I had never read this novel before. Ouch! No, this has not yet happened, even though the novel was dated for 20 years ago. But it still could. Instead of telescreens watching us everywhere, web cams and security cameras are all around. We are not yet told how to think. But with the right government, we could get into this mode.

Even after Winston gets captured by the Party for his wrong-thinking, I instinctively know there is hope for him and his ideas. What a well-written novel! Orwell has the reader sympathetic for Smith and cringing at the horrors of The Party. Yet hope is always present, even when Smith is taken to the dreaded Room 101. The end took me by surprise. I'm glad no one had told me how it turns out. This piece of literature is a classic, one that reminds us what can happen if we allow ourselves to ignore how our countries are run. I highly recommend it.

[NNN0LHI]

15. Pretty sure that Orwell had said that he based his 'Ministry of Truth'...

...in the book 1984 on the BBC. Strange stuff.

Don

[MuseRider]

2. Jeeezus!

How loud do they have to scream, "YOU are fucked" before the masses get it? This is one scary time to be alive. The "dept of truth", whose truth are they talking about? 1984

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. "Dept. of Audacious Lies."

Absurd.

[dArKeR]

4. Such bull. Trying to blame spin. Anyone but himself. Let's see if the UK

citizens are as stupid as US citizens. Let's see if the UK is controlled like the US Media Crime Family.

Like Blair had no idea what was going on and he didn't give the orders.

I say try them both for the murder of 40,000 people in the ICC.


http://darkerxdarker.tripod.com/

[T_i_B]

17. Blair IS spin.

Blair built up "new" labour on the ability to spin the story and twist the truth. Spin is an integral part of the "new" labour project and I don't think they can stop spinning. Blair will probbably be of the opinion that to stop spinning will be to invite his enemies to declare open season on his remarkably vacuous "project".

[IMayBeWrongBut]

6. At least

At least the media in the UK are willing to call them on the creepiness of the new policy by connecting it to George Orwewell's Ministry of Truth. Here in the US we only see that kind of talk on the internet...

[Nottingham]

7. I never knew how England was so Corrupt

and under the control of these powerful and decietful men!

:bounce:

[2cents]

8. Calling John Cleese!

Seriously - if Arnold can be considered for Gov., why not Cleese for Minister of Truth?

Who said totalitarianism can't be fun?

[schultzee]

9. Disgusting bu$h puppet swine.

sick of all of them.

[slack]

10. unbelievable

it's a joke, isn't it?

[Rose Siding]

11. Ministry of Magic

would be more credible

[Dirk39]

12. Did Blair really really really really chose this name????

I really want to know this. Or is it just the description, the newspaper has chosen?
I can't believe this. If there would be any citizens left, who are awake, it would be a joke. It's long since cynics have governed the west. I guess now they even believe their own lies.
Dirk

[screembloodymurder]

16. It was a Bush suggestion

we already have ours, it's called FOX News.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

13. Department of Salted Wounds.

"Bush apppoints Newt Gingrich to the newly created Department of Salted Wounds whose only task is creating news stories that outrage those who are still capable of being outraged, mainly to burn them out, like leaving a flashlight on until the bulb is just a barely noticable glow to drain the batteries of civic engagement."

[T_i_B]

14. The truth according to Tony Blair

I think you can guess what's comming along here can't you.

Ignorance is bliss

War is peace

Black is white

Tony Blair is a "pretty straight sort of guy".

:eyes:

[Flubadubya]

18. After all this comes down...

you might consider wanting to change your screen name "Thankfully...where?" :)

[T_i_B]

19. I've been considering that for some time now.

:eyes: