Wonder if that even refers to people who don't got an isp? Like if you go and just buy a oc24 line from your telephone company?

I LOVED 1984 when I read it in high school. I really should read it again as an adult as I bet I would have an even greater appreciation for it.

I have always wanted to teach this novel but I have not had a grade twelve English class in a few years. If I ever get back to teaching high school English though, this would be on the list!

As for Farenheit 451 - I have never read this book but it is on my list of must reads at some point!

Its been awhile since i read it. I would love to read it again.

The Thought Police of 1984 are everywhere today. Do enemy combatants at Guantanamo get denied Miranda Rights? Well, yeah, but they're not citizens, so I don't understand what the big deal is. How about the things going on inside our country (and others)

Respect - Homepage
The respect task force in UK. You have GOT to check out this site. This is a REAL government program in england. If you are "ant-social", you will be locked up and retrained. I know you think I'm kidding, this is real.

US Hate Crime Laws
Commit a robbery, get 5 years. Commit and robbery and call the person a bad name and get 25 years. Happens all the time. I just read a case similar to this last week. What you are thinking can get you put in jail longer than your crime.

Fairness Doctrine
Here's one. There is a bill in the House right now that will probably get passed that demands fair time for commentators. Essentially, talk show host such as Rush Limbaugh could be removed from the radio. Here's the article Kuhner: Liberal totalitarianism | Article | Free Access | Insight
and the important part: "Allies close to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are promoting legislation, which if passed, will take off the air prominent conservative radio hosts such as Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly—along with thousands of smaller conservative broadcasters. The bill, entitled the "Media Ownership Reform Act," is sponsored by Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a leftist Democrat from New York. The legislation aims to revive the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” of the 1940’s: “all views” are to be given equal time on radio. In particular, the Federal Communications Commission would have the power to oversee and change radio and television content. The goal is to tilt the ideological balance of power away from the right on the nation’s air waves."



Canadian Hate Speech Legislation
Canadian government has passed a bill that forbids anyone speaking against homosexuality. The problem is the Bible is clear this is a sin and running quotes from the Bible has gotten people in trouble. The law is very ambiguous in what can be considered hate speech and hate literature.


I could go on, particularly concerning global warming, but the fact is "thought police" is everywhere. It's about power and has nothing to do with republicans or democrats. If you think its a republican thing, you aren't even going to notice when the democrats strip your liberties; and vice versa. A divided nation will never be able to fight this. If everyone is either an R or a D cheerleader, we're screwed.

I hane not read this book, but would like to . I have heard good things about it.

Definitely a good book, one every one should read. I keep wondering if every one read it if it would actually change anything going on. When you have virtually no Congressmen voting against the Patriot Act, and no citizens who hold their representatives accountable, and a leadership that gets away with doing what it wants, there obviously are way too many people not paying attention. The great thing about 1984 is that it shows the very real possibility of the affects of that kind of apathy. It is rather frightening to read that book with the current events going on.

I can never get a straight answer on what people are afraid of the patriot act for? So the feds can wire tap? What's the bid deal? I see the 6 guys that got busted this week at Fort Dix and I'm glad we have the power to spy on these guys. Can the feds spy on me? I guess so, but there's nothing to see. And I will take them to court for doing it without just cause.
I'm really not being conforntational. I see a lot of similarities with 1984 and I agree apathy is killing us, but does the patriot act really affect anyone?

I personally see the Patriot Act a threat for 2 reasons. First, is the lines that it crosses with our civil liberties. It allows the government to directly violate Habeas corpus. Suddenly someone gets branded as a "terrorist", and they lose rights. What happened to "guilty until proven innocent"? The police don't need warrants anymore, so that gives the police way too much leverage. They aren't told what crimes they've committed, they aren't allowed a trial in some cases. They're just locked away.

The second reason I see is how much power that gives the government. It already affects everyone, because sudden the government has access to very personal reasons. I see the Patriot Act as a door that's been opened. It already has it's ramifications, but think of the leap the government took towards something like a military state? That's why I think 1984 is an important book, to warn us before we get to a Big Brother type state. Those kinds of things don't just happen over night, it happens gradually, one law at a time.

Thanks for the reply.

The best protection against what you fear is the 2nd amendment to the Constitution.

Did you see my post a few back about Respect.gov.uk ? In Britian you will be locked up for anti-social behavior.

The thing is, and this can really been seen in the UK, we are living in a world were a group of radicals can detonate a nuclear bomb in a city. At that point, none of this stuff matters. For this war, we need these abilities to some point, the stakes are too high.

The only solution is an informed public and an armed public.