Pirate "pixilated" GR Part 1 Section 2

[Dave Monroe]

I'm with Robt. on this one.  For perhaps similar
raesons to why I hear the relevance of "pixel" in
"pixilated," among many, many other things, though I
believe Pynchon is perhasp more pointed.  Cf.  ...

   "Until the latest of our world conflicts, the
United States had no armaments industry. American
makers of plowshares could, with time and as required,
make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk
emergency improvisation of national defense; we have
been compelled to create a permanent armaments
industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and
a half million men and women are directly engaged in
the defense establishment. We annually spend on
military security more than the net income of all
United States corporations.
   "This conjunction of an immense military
establishment and a large arms industry is new in the
American experience. The total influence-economic,
political, even spiritual-is felt in every city, every
state house, every office of the Federal government.
We recognize the imperative need for this development.
Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave
implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are
all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
   "In the councils of government, we must guard
against the acquisition of unwarranted influence,
whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial
complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of
misplaced power exists and will persist.
   "We must never let the weight of this combination
endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We
should take nothing for granted only an alert and
knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing
of huge industrial and military machinery of defense
with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security
and liberty may prosper together.
   "Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping
changes in our industrial-military posture, has been
the technological revolution during recent decades.
   "In this revolution, research has become central;
it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly.
A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or
at the direction of, the Federal government.

[...]

   "The prospect of domination of the nation's
scholars by Federal employment, project allocations,
and the power of money is ever present and is gravely
to be regarded.
   "Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery
in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the
equal and opposite danger that public policy could
itself become the captive of a
scientific-technological elite.
   "It is the task of statesmanship to mold, to
balance, and to integrate these and other forces, new
and old, within the principles of our democratic
system-ever aiming toward the supreme goals of our
free society."

http://www.eisenhower.utexas.edu/farewell.htm

"As well-known President and unintentional Luddite D.
D. Eisenhower prophesied when he left office, there is
now a permanent power establishment of admirals,
generals and corporate CEO's, up against whom us
average poor bastards are completely outclassed,
although Ike didn't put it quite that way."

http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/05/18/reviews/pynchon-luddite.html

God bless you, Pres. Eisenhower, wherever you are ...

Me, I still like Ike ...

--- "Michael J. Hußmann" <michael at michael-hussmann.de>
wrote:

> jbor at bigpond.com (jbor at bigpond.com) wrote:
> 
> > Here, I think Pynchon is using it more broadly to
> > refer to a conglomeration of governments, armed
> > services and corporations. It seems to me that
> > it's meant as an allegory of capitalism.
> 
> Given that "the firm" is a common euphemism for an
> intelligence agency, I think this is a bit
> far-fetched.


	
		
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