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The chocolate ration has been increased. Winston Smith knows the chocolate ration has been reduced, but he knows the penalty for dissent. The state says it is increased, so everyone celebrates. The State is always right.
Today in America the System can't fail. If it should falter, the banks, Wall Street, we will bail them out and move on. The burden of risk is borne by the individual. If we step out of line and join a union, we are fired. If we get sick and miss work, we are fired. If we are unlucky, we are fired. And when fired, kiss the health insurance goodbye, and then it's one short step to losing the house. But everything is fine! The politicians on Teevee say so. Just look at productivity and profits. Exxon made a googol dollars last quarter, going for two googols this quarter. Everyone should celebrate! The System is always right.
How much more or less humane is the Corporation than Big Brother? In which society, "DixieAmerica" or Oceania, is the individual more mobile, or valued more? Jesse Helms and the Southern Way - right up through Dubya - set out to destroy that villain FDR and his "Freedom from Fear" and "Freedom from Want" and have succeeded pretty well.
