Sunday, November 25, 2007

Orwell revisted

I was just working on some school work, which involved the discussion of critical thinking and ethics. Somehow the topic turned to politics, as it is prone to do when one talks about ethics.
This got me thinking, as it is prone to do. I remembered reading the book, Animal Farm my George Orwell as a teenager and likened it to the modern political season.
For those of you who have not read it, why not? It is a book about the Soviet revolutoin in Russia specifcally, but also one of the major American political parties as well. Here is a link to the Orwell website, which has the complete book availble online for free. http://www.george-orwell.org/Animal_Farm/0.html
Now that you have read the book (or re-read it). I will offer a breid synopsis of the book and you tell me what it reminds you of in terms of modern American Politics.
In the book, the animals led by the Pigs lead a revolution against their Human Overlords who represented the Kings and Dictators of old. As the book progresses, things start out well, the Pigs become the governing class, and send the children to school, they create a Constitution and proclaim that every animal should contribute what they can and receive only what they need (Marx' philosphy each according to their needs....).
Eventaully the Pigs garnered more and more control. The children all grown up turned on their parents, the horse (which represented the blue collar class) was too weak and tired to fight back and the Constitution became a "living and breathing" document which the leaders (the Pigs) changed to suit their needs.
In the end, the Pigs eventually became no better then the Humans and enslaved their "commrades" in the animal farm.
Now think about it. Who in the American political spectrum clims to serve the "blue collar" class? Who beleives in each according to their needs? and Public schooling?
If you read the language of the "Pigs" doesn't it remind you of the Clintons specifically, but also the Democrat leadership in general?
Scary isn't it? Think about that the first week in November 2008 when you pull those levers (push those buttons, punch those chads or however you need to vote). and remember this.
The two Presidents that are most thought of in modern American politics are Ronald Regan (the Republican) and Bill Clinton (the Democrat).
Ronald Regan's opinion on the power and greatness of America can be summarized by these quotes, "Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty" and, "Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States." both of which can be found at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ronald_reagan.html
Clinton's opnion and legacy can best be summarized by these quotes... Well, actually I couldn't find anything memorable that they said so I will remind you of what they did (or tried to do). Pass the largest tax increas in the hisotry of America, try to take over Healthcare, try to strengthen the government control over schools, the airwaves and toilets.

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