Spectacular junk, but that’s all.

Stung by protests that Star Trek (especially New Generation) was wildly pro statists – with all economic needs taken care of by the Federation government, and businessmen (when presented at all) presented as evil – and normally alien…..

The makers of the show came up with a collectivist foe.

But it is the old collectivist line – “we OPPOSE the destruction of the individual personality, we just want ……”

Karl Marx said the same thing (as did so many others) – economic collectivism would lead to “true freedom” where the individual could fully realize his or her potential and explore their minds (and so on).

In short – The Borg (and so on) are a diversion, from the basic point.

India – J.P. is right, there has been economic growth PEOPLE ARE BETTER OFF THAN THEY WERE.

I explained why – and I also explained how and why it will be undermined and destroyed.

As for the film.

O.K. an individual hero against a corrupt system.

Good as far as it goes.

‘Another sign, by the way, of India’s economic prowess, I think. ‘ Not really. It’s another sign of the economic power of some people in India. If India had ‘economic prowess’ it wouldn’t have 80% of its population living on less than 2$ per day.

Nope. I did not say that all of India was strong, merely that the country is rising fast in wealth terms and that that country’s movie industry, among other things, is proof of that. The fact that a large number of folk do not yet share in that wealth does not disprove that point. In Victorian Britain, large numbers of poor people existed, but that did not mean the country was not moving upwards.

My point stands.

I mean, if you are a Robot or mad computer trying for domination, just don’t bother to try in India – those guys will hack into you and make you beg for your electrons in no time at all…

I know. I think to much. “It’s just a movie. Lighten up.” I hear that a lot, but usually for seeing pro-collectivism themes and metaphors in movies.

However, India is also now the land of vast growing welfare schemes – which will bankrupt the country.

None of the voices on NDTV (English language Indian news) ever oppose these vast schemes.

There was supposedly a “debate” about Indian government policy today (in Davos), but having seen who was taking part in the “debate” I turned off.

As always with NDTV, they were all Welfare Statists.

Of course there is also the little problem of the two wars – one against the Islamists, the other against the Maoists.

Wars that go virtually unreported in the West – but which kill Indians every day.

The Maoists are helped by Indian land law – which allows the Indian government to (seemingly at will) take land and hand it over to private companies (remember a certain Supreme Court case in the United States…..).

Surprise, surprise, villagers do not like have their land stolen.

Also, even if the villagers are anti Maoist, they have to submit – due to “gun control”.

It is illegal for ordinary people to own firearms without permission you see – so when the Maoists (or the Islamists) come….

Hard to believe she’s 37.

I love South Indian movies, they make overblown Bollywood fare seem like Jane Austen adaptations.