Dear Editor,
All who cherish their democracy should read George Orwell’s cautionary tale, 1984.
The book centers on the consequences of a totalitarian state where truth is whatever the authoritarian leader says it is. His truth is enforced by the Thought Police who follows the “truth” as defined by the Ministry of Truth.
The MOT is successful at manipulating truth and facts within society. Members of society are indoctrinated to accept what Orwell calls double think.
This is a term he invents to refer to the phenomenon where a person accepts two conflicting ideas. In such a society black is white and up is down.
For example, make America great again really means make the leader great. And, further, the MOT says climate change is not real because the leader says so even though the vast majority of climate scientists believe it is.
The dictatorial government is supported by an intense cult of personality, all pledging allegiance to Big Brother, a dictatorial leader. This blind acceptance of Big Brother’s ideas and programs is what creates and sustains the dictatorial government.
It is a chilling read in light of Trump’s America. Many Americans have fallen for Trump’s versions of facts and truths. His Make America Great Again is a brilliant strategy for bamboozling millions of otherwise good, decent people.
But in reality, it means make Trump great, make him popular, make him the envy of others who seek power.
He is successful at getting people to believe that it is patriotic to support him and that if one doesn’t, then that person is not a true patriot.
Americans have been sold a bill of goods so to speak. All people who have grievances, who feel no one has their interests at heart, who are worried or angry about their government or the direction their society is headed are ripe candidates for a leader who speaks to their concerns and who has simple answers to complex problems.
“Dear Leader” convinces the populace that he alone is the only one who can “fix” things.
Such a leader is Trump. He promises to fix things and to make America great again.
And when challenged or the truth is exposed, he just keeps on repeating his lies following the advice of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Ministry of Propaganda. And anyone who dares challenge him is threatened with political or personal reprisal.
So, to protect their own careers, politicians remain silent while America drifts more and more toward an authoritarian state.
How do we who want to restore democratic norms and decency and truth to our political process get out of the mess we are in?
We must be willing to challenge those who are ruining America in the name of make America great again. If we are ever going to restore our country to the state out Founding Fathers envisioned, every American who loves democracy and freedom must get involved or America will continue its drift toward an authoritarian state.
We must vote!
Paul Robinson
Mansfield, Ohio