George Orwell's infamous "Big Brother" has infected the minds of every one of the millions of readers of 1984. But this horrific view of the future, one in which the government knows everything, keeps the low class down as an economic necessity, and wages a constant war with another of the world's powers, was only in Orwell's imagination. . . wasn't it?
             In today's world of hi-tech computers, video cameras, and television, the government, along with any other agency with the right amount of money, can look through anyone's personal records without much difficulty. Grocery stores that give out "savings" cards to their customers compile databases of addresses, social security numbers, and shopping habits. By giving out one's telephone number, the person is also giving out his or her address and neighborhood, which leads to information on annual income and who the person lives with. With this information, put together in the right way, criminals can seek out from our community, the elderly, the single, and the sick as possible victims. Technology is making every person's life open to the public.
             The idea that a country would carry on a war only to keep their economy moving is almost inconcievable. Orwell's fantasy world included constant warfare to control over production and end unemployment. This philosophy worked in Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. This type of economic policy has been put into practice on a number of occasions.
             Russia was overtaken by a Communist regime at the end of World War I. The Soviet Union was already involved in a war economy, and this revolution kept them there. They faced internal and external attacks, and withstood them. When they had no enemies strong enough to attack them, the Soviets had to make enemies to keep its economic system afloat. As F.J.P. Veale puts it in his essay "Orwellian Warfare," "An admission that no enemy existed would have entailed a reconstructi
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