Top Ten Orwellian Moments of 2006
Abookamongstthemany
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Well actually 9. Yes, it's a blog but I thought it was worth sharing.
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2006/12/top_ten_orwelli.html
Top Ten Orwellian Moments of 2006
For all the talk about the threat of "Little Brother" this year (youtubers and bloggers ready to distribute celebrity and citizen malfeasance within minutes), Big Brother still got some life in him yet. Here are some of his finest moments from the last year:
1) Fox News airs an infomercial for torture. On the November 3rd Greta Van Susteren show, reporter Steve Harrigan submitted himself to waterboarding, declaring:
As far as torture goes, at least in this controlled experiment, to me, this seemed like a pretty efficient mechanism to get someone to talk and then still have them alive and healthy within minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eikvxLy5IEE
2) Federal semantics eliminates the hunger problem. In November, The United States Department of Agriculture replaces the word "hunger" with the phrase "low food security" in its annual report on hunger in America. Problem solved! http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=5798
3) Defending the First Amendment by proposing that we scrap it. At a New Hampshire event dedicated to freedom of speech, Newt Gingrich declares that the United States will have to re-examine that particular constitutional right as it fights terrorism. Said Newt: "This is a serious, long-term war. It will inevitably lead us to want to know what is said in every suspect place in the country. It will lead us to learn how to close down every Web site that is dangerous."
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=46347
4) Halliburton contracts to build large detention camps in the US. In January, KBR, a subsidiary of Halliburton was awarded a 385 million dollar contract from the Department of Homeland Security to build "Detention and Removal" facilities to help "in the event of an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs that require additional detention space."
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B62C8724D%2DAE8A%2D4B5C%2D94C7%2D70171315C0A0%7D&dateid=38741%2E5136277662%2D858254656&siteID=mktw&scid=0&doctype=806
http://www.buzzflash.com/farrell/06/02/far06003.html
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=de9dd9fbbbbd59388d802c3f4e0e1288
5) The Inexorable Worldwide Rollout of RFID Chips. Although it's not moving as quickly as the RFID industry would like, 2006 saw the addition of electronic ID chips to US passports, Nikes and iPods, Florida pythons, Japanese schoolchildren, German hospital patients and boozing Brits.
http://management.silicon.com/government/0,39024677,39153665,00.htm
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/30/radio-on-nike-ipod-sport-kit-could-be-used-to-track-you/
http://networks.silicon.com/lans/0,39024663,39122042,00.htm
http://www.silicon.com/retailandleisure/0,3800011842,39162467,00.htm
6) Stay What? After years of characterizing US policy in Iraq as "Stay the course," the Bush administration not only drops the phrase, but denies it ever existed. On October 23rd, Bush declared "We've never been 'stay the course.'"
7) Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Carrying Cash is a Crime. In August, a federal court ruled that the government can seize cash from an individual, even if that individual has not been accused of a crime and has no criminal record. Link to Article http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/12/1296.asp Link to Ruling (pdf) http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2006/moneyseize.pdf
8) The Automated Targeting System. In November, the Federal Register revealed the existence of the Automated Targeting System, a Department of Homeland Security program for identifying terrorists and criminals, which cross references all people entering or leaving the country with a host of personal data which they are not allowed to see or correct.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_Targeting_System
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,236539,00.html
9) NSA Warrantless Surveillance and Crypto-City. Although the NSA's secret spying program broke in late 2005, the controversy took up much of 2006, culminating in the August ruling by Detroit District Court that the program was unconstitutional and illegal under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It continues nonetheless. And yet, through all of this, there's been almost no discussion of the NSA's secret city north of Washington, DC, called Crypto-City.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,416136,00.html
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/bamford/book.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/30/AR2005123001594.html
10) You tell me. What did I forget, or what's Orwellian in your neck of the woods? I'll add the tenth item from the best glaring omission suggestions made in the comments section.
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2006/12/top_ten_orwelli.html
Top Ten Orwellian Moments of 2006
For all the talk about the threat of "Little Brother" this year (youtubers and bloggers ready to distribute celebrity and citizen malfeasance within minutes), Big Brother still got some life in him yet. Here are some of his finest moments from the last year:
1) Fox News airs an infomercial for torture. On the November 3rd Greta Van Susteren show, reporter Steve Harrigan submitted himself to waterboarding, declaring:
As far as torture goes, at least in this controlled experiment, to me, this seemed like a pretty efficient mechanism to get someone to talk and then still have them alive and healthy within minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eikvxLy5IEE
2) Federal semantics eliminates the hunger problem. In November, The United States Department of Agriculture replaces the word "hunger" with the phrase "low food security" in its annual report on hunger in America. Problem solved! http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=5798
3) Defending the First Amendment by proposing that we scrap it. At a New Hampshire event dedicated to freedom of speech, Newt Gingrich declares that the United States will have to re-examine that particular constitutional right as it fights terrorism. Said Newt: "This is a serious, long-term war. It will inevitably lead us to want to know what is said in every suspect place in the country. It will lead us to learn how to close down every Web site that is dangerous."
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=46347
4) Halliburton contracts to build large detention camps in the US. In January, KBR, a subsidiary of Halliburton was awarded a 385 million dollar contract from the Department of Homeland Security to build "Detention and Removal" facilities to help "in the event of an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs that require additional detention space."
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B62C8724D%2DAE8A%2D4B5C%2D94C7%2D70171315C0A0%7D&dateid=38741%2E5136277662%2D858254656&siteID=mktw&scid=0&doctype=806
http://www.buzzflash.com/farrell/06/02/far06003.html
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=de9dd9fbbbbd59388d802c3f4e0e1288
5) The Inexorable Worldwide Rollout of RFID Chips. Although it's not moving as quickly as the RFID industry would like, 2006 saw the addition of electronic ID chips to US passports, Nikes and iPods, Florida pythons, Japanese schoolchildren, German hospital patients and boozing Brits.
http://management.silicon.com/government/0,39024677,39153665,00.htm
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/30/radio-on-nike-ipod-sport-kit-could-be-used-to-track-you/
http://networks.silicon.com/lans/0,39024663,39122042,00.htm
http://www.silicon.com/retailandleisure/0,3800011842,39162467,00.htm
6) Stay What? After years of characterizing US policy in Iraq as "Stay the course," the Bush administration not only drops the phrase, but denies it ever existed. On October 23rd, Bush declared "We've never been 'stay the course.'"
7) Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Carrying Cash is a Crime. In August, a federal court ruled that the government can seize cash from an individual, even if that individual has not been accused of a crime and has no criminal record. Link to Article http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/12/1296.asp Link to Ruling (pdf) http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2006/moneyseize.pdf
8) The Automated Targeting System. In November, the Federal Register revealed the existence of the Automated Targeting System, a Department of Homeland Security program for identifying terrorists and criminals, which cross references all people entering or leaving the country with a host of personal data which they are not allowed to see or correct.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_Targeting_System
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,236539,00.html
9) NSA Warrantless Surveillance and Crypto-City. Although the NSA's secret spying program broke in late 2005, the controversy took up much of 2006, culminating in the August ruling by Detroit District Court that the program was unconstitutional and illegal under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It continues nonetheless. And yet, through all of this, there's been almost no discussion of the NSA's secret city north of Washington, DC, called Crypto-City.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,416136,00.html
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/bamford/book.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/30/AR2005123001594.html
10) You tell me. What did I forget, or what's Orwellian in your neck of the woods? I'll add the tenth item from the best glaring omission suggestions made in the comments section.
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
Sorry, I can't think of #10 right now... but I'll think about it.
Ever heard of COINTELPRO activities in the 60's and 70's? All human rights and political groups were targeted by this illegal, covert program.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cointelpro-Papers-Documents-Against-Classics/dp/0896086488/sr=1-1/qid=1168007638/ref=sr_1_1/026-8449191-6268465?ie=UTF8&s=books
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Agents-Repression-American-Movement-Classics/dp/0896086461/sr=1-3/qid=1168007668/ref=sr_1_3/026-8449191-6268465?ie=UTF8&s=books
lol..you watch tv news?
I used to think this isn't Orwellian at all, just a bad policy or maybe a poorly managed policy. But I've done some more research on the whole thing and I agree that the "war on drugs" has underlying objectives. I read somewhere (sorry don't have source) that 80% of incarcerated people are there for drug-related crimes, most of which are for using, not dealing. Why are these people in jail for non-violent offenses, where they probably can still access these drugs, and where they won't get the necessary treatment to break the addiction? I think when you answer this question, it leads you to some very Orwellian reasons. Basically -- social cleansing.
Another thought on Orwellian policies -- how about the lack of funding for the mentally disabled, "schizo", whatever you'd like to call it. My wife turned me on to this one (she works in this field)... scientifically most people believe these illnesses are tantamount to physical illnesses, even cancer and the like, in terms of the consequences and potential treatability. Yet the amount of money spent on research is a tiny fraction compared to physical illnesses. -- I guess this one is more of a "Huxleyian" policy... reminds me of a chapter in "Brave New World-Revisited".
Also 'One That Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' by Ken Kesey. It goes into great detail about the level of control placed over these mentally ill people by seperation, isolation, sedation, use of rigid unbreakable schedules, tracking without consent, and being fooled into thinking they have a say and choices when none actually exist. Sound familiar???
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Umm...I didn't write it. Although, from time to time I do tune in to see what's on, just flipping through. Why?
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
http://www.thenewamerican.com/artman/publish/article_4213.shtml
How about "appetite challenged" or "NicoleRichieitis"? WTF?!?!
Any suggestions to that revision?
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