Welcome to 1984

George Orwell's 1984 is a book showing what happens when power is abused in such a way by the system, that it literally becomes impossible to fight it. The situation is presented as such that most people are kept quiet through terror and fear. You would think that that doesn't apply to western countries today, wouldn't you? After all, most people reading this are probably having nice jobs, plenty of food on the table, a nice time watching their soaps and browsing their Internet. Nothing like the cold, grey environment described in the book.

But then you read something like this article and you realize it's not quite like that. What's happening today is a lot scarier than 1984, because it's considerably less obvious. Today you are being numbed down and pushed into submission exactly through those methods: you are encouraged to consume, so that you get in debts that you will later have to pay and therefore become dependent on the system. The Internet is a way to keep track of your activities, chats and e-mails (if you think that's not being done, read about Edward Snowden and his statements).

Most people say "as long as my life is OK, I don't care". The problem with this is that your life is OK only if you agree with the system. Despite what most Hollywood movies say, in most cases fighting the system will lead to a lot of issues that will eventually defeat you. Because most of the times, people will prefer shutting up and not assisting you (unless the issue you are fighting is directly affecting them) and keeping their foods, jobs, credit scores and all that while you fight all by yourself with a system that will bring you down.

The chain is tightening, the control is more and more suffocating, and soon you will find yourself fighting with the system more often. If you were by yourself, that might work, but most of the times you have children, family to think of and you don't want them dragged down with you. You will probably back down at the first sign of resistance.

We are not beaten into submission, but it is a submission nevertheless. We are forced to swallow what the system sells, in exchange for food and shelter. It's better than 1984, I guess. But just as bad for the human spirit.