Orwell in 2006

[MrBigglesworth]

I always loved Orwell's books 1984 and Animal Farm. The books really capture the way totalitarian governments control message, rhetoric and information. Every once in a while I come across an example from today that reminds me of something from Orwell, and thought that I'd start a thread to add them as I see them. My all-time favorite is all the ethical problems that the current group in the House has, ironic because they swept into office on a platform of ethical reform. Reminds me of the end of Animal Farm:

The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

Today I saw an amazing one. I'm not here to criticize it, just to stand in awe of it. When the Medicare drug bill was being pushed through Congress, the Department of Health and Human services told Congress that it would cost $400 billion over 10 years. Once the bill was passed, HHS revealed that they actually projected a cost of $500-600 billion but weren't allowed to tell anyone at the administration's 'request'. Then, about a year ago, they revised their estimate to $720 billion over 10 years. Just today, after only a month of the progra, HHS has determined that the drug benefit will come in under budget by 10%! That means that the new projection over ten years is $650 billion. That number is about 60% higher than the number told congress, and 20% higher than the actual original projections, yet they are saying it is coming in under budget because of an inflated estimate last year. Brilliant!

For the moment he had shut his ears to the remoter noises and was listening to the stuff that streamed out of the telescreen. It appeared that there had even been demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grammes a week. And only yesterday, he reflected, it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grammes a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it.

[moriarty]

You can't post in the scientist's thread and quote Orwell at the same time or we're going to revoke your membership card. You have been warned.

[Dutch]

That reminds me of another quote from George Orwell.

"Liberal: a power worshipper without power."

[KWhit]

1984 is probably my favorite book ever. I used the term "doublethink" not 30 minutes ago in this thread:

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ad.php?t=46835

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Dutch

That reminds me of another quote from George Orwell.

"Liberal: a power worshipper without power."

Yes, what a valuable quote, since we all know that liberals have never had power...

[JPhillips]

We are at war with EurAsia.

We have always been at war with EurAsia.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by MrBigglesworth

Today I saw an amazing one. I'm not here to criticize it, just to stand in awe of it. When the Medicare drug bill was being pushed through Congress, the Department of Health and Human services told Congress that it would cost $400 billion over 10 years. Once the bill was passed, HHS revealed that they actually projected a cost of $500-600 billion but weren't allowed to tell anyone at the administration's 'request'. Then, about a year ago, they revised their estimate to $720 billion over 10 years. Just today, after only a month of the progra, HHS has determined that the drug benefit will come in under budget by 10%! That means that the new projection over ten years is $650 billion. That number is about 60% higher than the number told congress, and 20% higher than the actual original projections, yet they are saying it is coming in under budget because of an inflated estimate last year. Brilliant!

This happens all the time. Budget "cuts" are usually just decreases from last year's increase. All branches of government from local to federal love to tout budget "cuts" that are still a net increase in spending from the prior year.

[MrBigglesworth]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

This happens all the time. Budget "cuts" are usually just decreases from last year's increase. All branches of government from local to federal love to tout budget "cuts" that are still a net increase in spending from the prior year.

That is not at all what is happening here. You are talking about programs with a defined budget, while Part D has an open ended budget and hence doesn't get increases. All the previous were estimates, with the huge estimate coming conveniently a couple months after the presidential election, so they could announce the miraculous savings of the program just as midterms are revving up. This is a common thing done by the administration.

Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it.

[SFL Cat]

Washington D.C., the only place I know about where a decrease in the rate of growth from one year to the next is considered a budget cut.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by MrBigglesworth

That is not at all what is happening here. You are talking about programs with a defined budget, while Part D has an open ended budget and hence doesn't get increases. All the previous were estimates, with the huge estimate coming conveniently a couple months after the presidential election, so they could announce the miraculous savings of the program just as midterms are revving up. This is a common thing done by the administration.

It's a common thing done by governments everywhere, regardless of whether or not you think my example is the same thing.

My other favorite governmental mechination: asking for tax increases to support basic government functions (police, fire, etc) while using existing tax money for perks (new convention center, sports stadium, etc).

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by KWhit

1984 is probably my favorite book ever. I used the term "doublethink" not 30 minutes ago in this thread:

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ad.php?t=46835

I prefer newspeak myself and I believe that your proper use of the word doublethink is double-plus good.

[KWhit]

Originally Posted by BrianD

I prefer newspeak myself and I believe that your proper use of the word doublethink is double-plus good.

It's high time I re-read that book. I have done so every 3-4 years since I first read it in high school and it's time to return to Oceania.

FYI:
I just found an online version. Pretty cool! To those of you who have never read it, what the hell are you waiting for!?!?

http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by KWhit

It's high time I re-read that book. I have done so every 3-4 years since I first read it in high school and it's time to return to Oceania.

FYI:
I just found an online version. Pretty cool! To those of you who have never read it, what the hell are you waiting for!?!?

http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/

Thanks for the link, I'll have to bookmark that one. I think I first read the book in 1983 after seeing a 60-Minutes story talking about it. I must have been about 10 at the time. I'm sure I got more out of it in later re-reads, but I have always enjoyed the book. It is probably abot time I put that back on my to-read list.

[Wolfpack]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

We are at war with EurAsia.

We have always been at war with EurAsia.

Well, other than that pesky war with Japan, that's generally been the case. Okay, and Korea and Vietnam. Fine, forget what I said....

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

We are at war with EurAsia.

We have always been at war with EurAsia.

I sure hope Winger and Bon Jovi don't join up with Europe and Asia to form Wing EurAsia Jovi..

Man.. that would unleash some crappy songs upon the world.

[JPhillips]

Wolfpack: What are you saying?

We are at war with East Asia.

We have always been at war with East Asia.

On another note, be sure to read Orwell's appendix on Newspeak. It can get a bit academic, but boy did he ever think through his new language before he wrote the book.

[Logan]

I wrote my high school "senior paper" (something everyone needed to complete to graduate...had to take three books and find a common theme and make comparisons, critique, etc.) on the totalitarian governments found in 1984, Animal Farm, and Lord of the Flies. I actually really enjoyed writing the thing, mostly because the books were so damn good.

[KWhit]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

On another note, be sure to read Orwell's appendix on Newspeak. It can get a bit academic, but boy did he ever think through his new language before he wrote the book.

The appendix was one of the best things about the book.

[Wolfpack]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Wolfpack: What are you saying?

We are at war with East Asia.

We have always been at war with East Asia.

On another note, be sure to read Orwell's appendix on Newspeak. It can get a bit academic, but boy did he ever think through his new language before he wrote the book.

Reminds me of the Bloom County cartoon back during the 1984 election when Portney and Hodge Podge are debating who to nominate for the Meadow Party ticket.

"How about Jesse Helms?"
"Naw, that'd alienate half the country."
"How about Jesse Jackson?"
"Naw, that'd alienate the other half."
"Oh, what the hell. Let's alienate everybody. Jesse and Jesse in '84!"

[MrBigglesworth]

Ministry of Truth employee of the month: George Deutsch

George is a 24-year old journalism graduate of Texas A&M. He works for the public affairs office of NASA, and recently told the top climate scientist there that if he continued to speak out against global warming, there would be 'dire consequences'. What qualifies young George for a position in which he is asked to judge what is science to member of NASA? He is a writer with a Bush-worshipping ideology. If that is the only requirement for the job, what do you think the job's purpose is?

There will be no loyalty, except loyalty towards the Party. There will be no love, except the love of Big Brother. There will be no laughter, except the laugh of triumph over a defeated enemy. There will be no art, no literature, no science. When we are omnipotent we shall have no more need of science. There will be no distinction between beauty and ugliness. There will be no curiosity, no enjoyment of the process of life. All competing pleasures will be destroyed.

[MrBigglesworth]

On March 16 the House Financial Services Committee approved the "Financial Data Protection Act of 2005" on a 48-16 vote.

This bill trumps weak state laws by providing increased protections for all of our personal credit data, allowing us to easily protect ourselves from identity theives. The powerful credit lobby is in shambles.

HAHA just kidding! The law is actually less strict than most state laws, for example only allowing credit freezes (one of the most effective deterrents to identity theft) after someone has already been a victim of identity theft. The law will have the nationwide effect of making consumer data easier to steal, but the credit companies love it because it keeps instant credit available.

[Young Drachma]

I read 1984 and Animal Farm as a kid and I was pretty big fan, too.