1984 George Orwell Predictions Essay

In the novel 1984, author George Orwell makes many predictions as to what society would conform to in the year 1984. Although these predictions are jurassic and farfetched, many of Orwell's predictions are expressed in our modern day American society. 1984 showcases the empowerment of a totalitarian government. The main Character, Winston, lives in a society where the government controls every aspect of his life, ranging from his food to his razor portions, and even his thoughts. Our American government may be far from totalitarian, however our government has become increasingly inserted and controlling in society, parallel to the government in 1984. Big government produces programs like Obamacare that take away money from the private sector, and therefore the American People. Obamacare also gives the government a pathway to eventually control the healthcare industry. Similarly, the
government in 1984 controls literally every industry, ranging from the ministry of Plenty which controls food rations, to the Ministry of Truth which controls publications. The Ministry of Truth, which controls the information and the history of Oceania, changes past articles, making it so there is no proof of Big Brother's predictions being wrong. Because the Ministry can control publications, they can also control opinions. American media is not much different from the Ministry of Truth. Fox News, CNN, and ABC might not be able to change US history or rewrite the past, but they have the power to alter our opinions on social issues, wars, elections, ect. Media does this by leaving out the opposing facts and not providing both sides of the story. Just like the Ministry of truth favors Big Brother, American media can favor a specific party or candidate. For example, Fox News will rarely cover a story with a republican candidate in the wrong (with the acceptation of Donald Trump), but are quick to report stories attacking democratic leaders. Citizens of Oceania are constantly watched by Big Brother through a tele-screen that they can not turn off.
Cameras and microphones are placed everywhere by the thought police, so the people have no privacy, even within the walls of their own home. In American society Big Brother may not be watching us, but the NSA sure is. Current and planned areas of surveillance by the NSA include internet searches, emails, Skype video calls, text messages, and much more. The NSA even shares some sample collection data on their twitter, @NSA_PRISMbot. Thus, like the citizens of Oceania, American citizens also do not have privacy within the walls of their own home. By collecting excessive amounts of our personal data and taking control of our industries, the US government is becoming more invasive, and more similar to the government of Oceania. Bias forms of media, similar to the Ministry of Truth in Winston's society, are allowing for a misinformed and brainwashed America, leading to the implementation of problematic policies and rigged elections. This is not a future we want for our
country.