Institutions

This is an observation in broad brush strokes:

It seems that many institutions in this country have been corrupted by a kind of Leninism. That is not to say that they are marxist or even communist, but a reflection of the political methods employed by the Soviet Union. The example I would point to is Socialist Realism (wikipedia). Even art, arguably one of the highest achievements of man, was subordinated to ideology in the Soviet state.

To be fair, the use of art to further politics is not a new idea. One just has to look at the Pyramids , or read Plato's Republic. However, the soviet example echoes to me because of the dearth of art it left behind. What great artist of the twentieth century existed in the Soviet Union? If you run a google search no name pops up, though you do see an entry for propaganda posters. A few entries later you see a traveling exhibition, which prominently features a Faberge egg, definitely not a Soviet production. So to do our modern institutions seem barren. Take your pick of any political issue and you can find a depressing solidarity between press, academia, the arts, and the left in this country. Everyone is pulling together to further their ideology.

I would bid any reader to reflect, is this good or bad? You could argue that solidarity is merely a side effect of the wisdom contained within these institutions. Yet, to me, Socrates had a great point about those who proclaim their wisdom, as they have often mistaken opinion for truth and thus lead others into error.