Huxley vs. Orwell: Infinite Distraction Or Government Oppression?

[MachineGhost]

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[Pointedstick]

Fascinating stuff. I fully agree with the premise. My only consolation as a libertarian is that at least I can personally avoid a Huxley-style life by rejecting consumerism, eating properly, reducing electronic distractions, building and repairing my own stuff, and living close to friends and family. I'm not forced to do any of these things. By contract, in a tyrannical society, trying to opt out or resist invites death. Ideally we would live in a utopia, but if I had to choose between an Orwell society, and a Huxley society, I think I'd go for the latter.

[MediumTex]

Why bother with the effort of planting a boot on the face of humanity if you can just use propaganda to convince people that it is desirable to wear a boot on their face at all times?

For example, I've always thought the idea of gold confiscation was nothing to be concerned about.  The bigger concern is the government simply buying up all the gold at above market prices and then taxing gold transactions to the point that owning gold becomes impractical.  Same outcome, but much less Orwellian.

For anyone who hasn't seen George Lucas's first film THX 1138, you must check it out.  It's what a mixed 1984/Brave New World society might look like, with a tilt toward Huxley's vision.

[Tortoise]

I also agree that Huxley's vision has turned out to be a bit more accurate than Orwell's, but Orwell wasn't completely off the mark.

Two obvious examples that come to mind are (1) ubiquitous surveillance and (2) the concept of a perpetually changing Enemy (an enemy du jour, if you will) to constantly invoke people's herd instinct and thereby prevent them from behaving and thinking too much like individuals.

[FarmerD]

MG,
Thanks for posting.  That is a great synopsis of two brilliants people's ideas.  I'll have to email to a few friends.