I drank the Kool-aid (last time in '89)

[vajraroshana]

The Electric Kool-aid, that is.

I've been wondering if that has an effect on the mass-consciousness *now*; particularly since there was a major bust around 2000 and it's pretty much non-existent nowadays.

It seemed to have had an effect, in the sense of waking people up, during the Vietnam 60s era.

Not that it didn't send a few people to mental hospitals, or that I condone it...

But does its absence now account for the pitiful state of the youth culture?

Just wondering....

[villager]

1. have had similar musings, myself...

even those not "drinking electric" back in the 60's, say, were still affected by the cultural changes that came from -- or were amplified -- by it: "Sgt. Pepper," Zap Comix, underground newspapers, etc., et al...

How did we go from that to such a ...sterile political/arts culture?

Of course, the well-timed, ahem, "lone nut" assassinations served the power brokers well, as far as not letting the system itself get too far out of line...

[vajraroshana]

4. Only just found out recently about the bust....

You can google it...

Apparently almost all the acid came from one or two individuals; and they busted them around 2000.

I don't think there was a viable "acid" culture going on anyway, not like the one I've read about that occured in the 60s; it probably couldn't be reduplicated now and also the better aspects of that time were probably only marginally a product of the psychedelics.

But something was going on then that seemed unique; I think the "electric kool-aid" acted as a catalyst for some people. It's curious that it now seems to be gone at the same time it "could" now be needed (not that I'd ever want to try it again, he he ).

[liberalmuse]

2. I think psychedelics could be a very useful tool...

They've used them with great success to treat alcoholism and PTSD. Terrence McKenna may be onto something with his theories about how symbiosis between humans and hallucinogens like mushrooms are responsible for the evolution of consciousness.

I'm fascinated with anything to do with psychedelics/psychedelic culture and have been ever since childhood. However, I've never drank the Kool-aid and only partook of the sacrament a couple times.

[LoZoccolo]

3. How can they cut off the supply?

I thought it was made all over the place in people's houses and stuff and that's why it's so cheap.

[vajraroshana]

5. No way

Way, way too complicated.

Nowhere near possible to just make a batch up in your bathtub (unlike meth).

The kinda weird fact is that only a few people made it; and they made it in huge quantities. Only a very few individuals were supplying it. Maybe even only the two that were busted -- at least in large enough supplies for the market. (I've read on "usenet" that there are some Europeans making it now also). Apparently, the raw ingredients are hard as hell to come by. It's not a bathtub operation.

The reason it was so cheap is that these people considered it a "sacrament" -- literally. So did most of the people in the supply chain. At least until it got very local. They weren't out to make a buck, they were out to "turn the world on".

They felt as if they were on a mission.

What a trip huh?

[villager]

7. a long, strange trip, of course...

but we need to be on some kinda similar highway, and soon, or we -- the country, the species -- are sunk...

[jdots]

6. I think the cokedum years was a plot

there was a drug that had alot to do with the C.I.A.,people becoming self centered yuppys,it wasn't mind expanding.
Alot of neocon scum were coke heads...........the book Acid Dreams is a good history of the why and how acid became a recreational drug. If you gave acid to a dumby they had a few minutes of insight but usually reverted to dumbyness.....Good question though,but drugs aren't the answer they are the question. thats a quote from Baba Ram Monster Truck

[vajraroshana]

8. Kinda my thinking also....it was the times

I think that acid only acted as a catalyst,...and then only in the special environment of the day.

There was something special going on then; maybe the newness of it or something.

It is one side question I'm pondering these last few days 'til the election. I just recently found out about the bust that took away all the acid in the US since 2000. Kinda curious that...