Socialism. When someone asks “What are your thoughts on socialism?” people have the tendency to respond very positive remarks, respond with a large amount of negativity, or look confused due to the fact that they don’t know what socialism is. In fact, a recent study by the Pew Research Center shows that 43% of people between the ages of 18-29 respond to socialism with positivity. That number continues to go down as the ages of those studied increases. Out of the people studied between the ages 50-65, only 23% of those responded with positive remarks towards socialism (Ekins). This is due to the widely negative connotation associated with socialism, as many socialistic nations in the past have abused the power given to them, including the nations
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In fact, government surveillance was one of the many ways the Party controlled civilians throughout the story in 1984. For example, Winston and Julia want to be able to see each other as much as possible, and went to great lengths in order to do so. They went to very desolate areas away from microphones and cameras, such as a far off countryside accessible by train, in order to talk to each other (Orwell). This abuse of power is even used to this day, as the government has many tactics used to track a citizens every move. The NSA, for example, has the ability to collect all text messages a person receives, record any phone call a person makes, as well as the ability to track down an individual’s information through the person’s social media accounts (NSA’s Surveillance Programs). If used properly, government surveillance could be used to help create a safer and more protected society. However, it is being abused by the United States government, as well as governments all over, to do more than just prevent the spread of terrorism and criminal acts of violence. The solution to the issue of surveillance, however, is fairly simple. If someone is suspected of criminal activity, then look at their texts, calls, or perhaps even their social media pages. However, only look at those resources for that reason, and not to spy on innocent civilians. If this is done, …show more content…
This type of abuse of power was used throughout the book 1984. In the story, the reader learns that the Party has obtained so much power that they’re able to, quite literally, rewrite history. This type of manipulation is shown when Winston is referring to the chocolate ration. While editing reports, he stumbles upon a piece that “issued a promise that there would be no reduction of the chocolate ration during 1984”, when in reality Winston remembers hearing that “the chocolate ration was to be reduced from thirty grams to twenty at the end of the present week” (Orwell). As scary as it may seem, governments, such as the United States government, use manipulation techniques even to this day. For example, everyone is told that government surveillance has been exclusively used to contain the threat of terrorism, when in reality it is used for far more than that. Another form of manipulation that occurs today is the disastrous events shown in the news today. As said by John Whitehead in his article regarding government manipulation, people hear these scary events and feel as if more government protection is necessary, when really more protection, in its current state, entitles everyone to less privacy (Whitehead). These forms of manipulation have been used in the past by radical totalitarian states to gain more power. If these countries stuck closer to the roots of the socialistic
In fact, government surveillance was one of the many ways the Party controlled civilians throughout the story in 1984. For example, Winston and Julia want to be able to see each other as much as possible, and went to great lengths in order to do so. They went to very desolate areas away from microphones and cameras, such as a far off countryside accessible by train, in order to talk to each other (Orwell). This abuse of power is even used to this day, as the government has many tactics used to track a citizens every move. The NSA, for example, has the ability to collect all text messages a person receives, record any phone call a person makes, as well as the ability to track down an individual’s information through the person’s social media accounts (NSA’s Surveillance Programs). If used properly, government surveillance could be used to help create a safer and more protected society. However, it is being abused by the United States government, as well as governments all over, to do more than just prevent the spread of terrorism and criminal acts of violence. The solution to the issue of surveillance, however, is fairly simple. If someone is suspected of criminal activity, then look at their texts, calls, or perhaps even their social media pages. However, only look at those resources for that reason, and not to spy on innocent civilians. If this is done, …show more content…
This type of abuse of power was used throughout the book 1984. In the story, the reader learns that the Party has obtained so much power that they’re able to, quite literally, rewrite history. This type of manipulation is shown when Winston is referring to the chocolate ration. While editing reports, he stumbles upon a piece that “issued a promise that there would be no reduction of the chocolate ration during 1984”, when in reality Winston remembers hearing that “the chocolate ration was to be reduced from thirty grams to twenty at the end of the present week” (Orwell). As scary as it may seem, governments, such as the United States government, use manipulation techniques even to this day. For example, everyone is told that government surveillance has been exclusively used to contain the threat of terrorism, when in reality it is used for far more than that. Another form of manipulation that occurs today is the disastrous events shown in the news today. As said by John Whitehead in his article regarding government manipulation, people hear these scary events and feel as if more government protection is necessary, when really more protection, in its current state, entitles everyone to less privacy (Whitehead). These forms of manipulation have been used in the past by radical totalitarian states to gain more power. If these countries stuck closer to the roots of the socialistic