Fooled Into Collectivism

Jeremy Singleton
English 10 CP
September 16, 2012
Fooled Into Collectivism
In most Collective Societies people are tricked into thinking that it will be better for them, than their old form of government. Most of them are fooled into believing that they will have a perfect life, and they will never have any more problems. In Anthem, a science fiction novel written by Ayn Rand, everyone thinks that their life is perfect and that this way of life is the only option they have.
The people in these societies have accepted that the way of life they are used to is utterly wrong and the correct way is to give up everything for the good of everyone. The citizens of Anthem say, “There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever” (Rand 19). This shows that their governments officials have made them think that now they are perfect and they will live and reign forever.
In Anthem’s “perfect” society they work as one for common goals. For example they all do separate jobs to help the community get things accomplished. When the children are young they are all taught to be exactly like everyone else. Equality explains, “We strive to be like all our brother men, for all men must be alike.” (Rand 7). Equality had a lot of trouble with this, because he loved to learn and experiment with new things.
Fooling the citizens wasn’t the only tactic the leaders used. They also used fear to scare them into thinking that their way of life is the only way that will work for them. Equality says, “There is fear hanging in the air of the streets. Fear walks through the city, fear without name, without shape. All men feel it and none dare to speak.” (Rand 43). This fear also helped them trick people into thinking that they are very powerful, when really they have no guards or locks on the doors.
Through conning and inducing fear, leaders have changed their people’s way of life for the good of everyone instead of themselves. Their government has been transformed into a Collectivist based society.