Orwell was so far ahead of his time that he could have been born in recent years and still be a voice bringing clarity to today's situation. Its been more than 50 years since I first read his novels, I must reread some of them with a view to current affairs in mind!
Consider this: a time is coming in the not too distant future when we will have a generation of adults who have been intimately involved with the Internet since birth. Consider also that many facets of the Internet have become parasitic. People are now installing devices in their homes that monitor everything. These boxes provide services to those who are willing to share their information. The Gestapo, KGB and Stasi never dreamed of having such access.
Can you imagine being a fly on the wall at the CIA meeting where they lamented the difficulty of monitoring the population as in Orwell's 1984?
First, Motorola shows up and explains they can get everyone to carry a transponder tracking device everywhere they go, all you have to do is let them talk to each other with it (and you can monitor what they say and who they say it to).
Then in a later meeting is a guy who explains he can get everyone to fill in a complete dossier on themselves, and maintain it over time to boot. Plus provide lots of pictures of themselves to be used for the face tracking systems in public places. Even came up with a catchy name for the mug shots, "selfies" so the scanners know the picture is of the subject of the dossier.
Neoliberal void-worshipers use "1984" as an instructions manual. Except they say Emmanuel Goldstein is a "RACIST!" – This, while simultaneously segregating People of Color into inner-city ghettos, private-prison sweatshops, free-trade shanty towns and all manner of human-trafficking rings.
(Neoliberals have black holes for souls. "2 + 2 = 5" is good enough for them as long as they get good returns on their investment portfolios – as well as cheap and fearful nannies, maids and factory workers.)
When High-Born 'Liars in Public Places' lose all credibility, then everything must become a lie. (In case you were wondering...)
Looks like Orwell was right. The 'Last Man in Europe' died back in 1984! This abomination of a sorry excuse for a civilization has gone full-blown 'Lord of the Flies.' (The children of children of men run around screaming at the sky!)
"WORLD WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS WAGE SLAVERY. WILLFUL IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH."
He wouldn't know about 5G though and how bad it is going to be and the Chinese own this tech. Be surfe to check it out. Anyong
ReplyDeleteOrwell was so far ahead of his time that he could have been born in recent years and still be a voice bringing clarity to today's situation. Its been more than 50 years since I first read his novels, I must reread some of them with a view to current affairs in mind!
ReplyDeleteConsider this: a time is coming in the not too distant future when we will have a generation of adults who have been intimately involved with the Internet since birth. Consider also that many facets of the Internet have become parasitic. People are now installing devices in their homes that monitor everything. These boxes provide services to those who are willing to share their information. The Gestapo, KGB and Stasi never dreamed of having such access.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/1SKpRbvnx6g
About the only thing I miss since I retired, Mound, is teaching Orwell.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine being a fly on the wall at the CIA meeting where they lamented the difficulty of monitoring the population as in Orwell's 1984?
ReplyDeleteFirst, Motorola shows up and explains they can get everyone to carry a transponder tracking device everywhere they go, all you have to do is let them talk to each other with it (and you can monitor what they say and who they say it to).
Then in a later meeting is a guy who explains he can get everyone to fill in a complete dossier on themselves, and maintain it over time to boot. Plus provide lots of pictures of themselves to be used for the face tracking systems in public places. Even came up with a catchy name for the mug shots, "selfies" so the scanners know the picture is of the subject of the dossier.
Let me echo Lorne's comment.
ReplyDeleteNeoliberal void-worshipers use "1984" as an instructions manual. Except they say Emmanuel Goldstein is a "RACIST!" – This, while simultaneously segregating People of Color into inner-city ghettos, private-prison sweatshops, free-trade shanty towns and all manner of human-trafficking rings.
ReplyDelete(Neoliberals have black holes for souls. "2 + 2 = 5" is good enough for them as long as they get good returns on their investment portfolios – as well as cheap and fearful nannies, maids and factory workers.)
When High-Born 'Liars in Public Places' lose all credibility, then everything must become a lie. (In case you were wondering...)
Looks like Orwell was right. The 'Last Man in Europe' died back in 1984! This abomination of a sorry excuse for a civilization has gone full-blown 'Lord of the Flies.' (The children of children of men run around screaming at the sky!)
"WORLD WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS WAGE SLAVERY. WILLFUL IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH."