The Mike Wallace Interview With Aldous Huxley 5/18/58
Mike Wallace, the popular journalist who recently passed away (May 9, 1918 – April 7, 2012), interviews English writer Aldous Huxley in 1958. In the interview, Huxley’s best-selling novel Brave New World
Topics examined are overpopulation, freedom, social control, central government, social unrest, death control, over-organization, propaganda, television, technology, drugs, bureaucracy, and futurology.
The discussion converges toward subject material that is often discussed in today’s dialogue. Ideology of government is injected into the population as a means of social control. Centralized bureaucracy has never been greater in the United States; which often steers a misinformed public away from the underlying cracks in society. Corruption is hidden through layers of organized groups.
Key ideas that the public should focus on are decentralization of government, strength in education, and a determined belief in democracy. Huxley warns his audience that harm could occur if these problems aren’t addressed. Huxley goes on to imply that freedom in America is in jeopardy and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
In the interview, Wallace brings up another work of Huxley’s, called Enemies Of Freedom. Huxley refers to American political campaigns:
“All that is needed is money and a candidate who can be coached to look sincere. Political principles and plans for specific action have come to lose most of their importance. The personality of the candidate, the way he is projected by the advertising experts are the things that really matter.” — Aldous Huxley
In one of the most important books of his career, Brave New World Revisited (P.S.)
And listen to Huxley as he mentions of the personality of candidates during elections! His prophetic mind parallels with the politics we encounter in the cycles of current debate. The candidate is merchandised, according to Huxley.
Huxley forewarns of the dangers of the new devices of technology and techniques of propaganda.
Aldous Huxley died at the age of 69, at 5:20 p.m. on November 22, 1963, several hours after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. His death was overshadowed by the assassination of President Kennedy.
And the final question is posed. Is freedom necessary?
