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Succumbing To Technology

Technology plays a vital role in the lives of most people in the world. Every year technology is advancing and making the populace more dependent
upon its ability to amuse us. In Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman, he examines this danger. Postman tells of what the future world might be by comparing Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. He believes our world is becoming more like Huxley's than Orwell's. While his argument is proving to be true, he still does not have all of his facts correct.
In Nineteen Eighty-Four the people of Oceania live under the control of a Totalitarian government. Their lives are ruled by "The Party" and the idea that "Big Brother is Watching" them. This statement is to be taken literally. The people are closely monitored by members of The Party, thought-readers, telescreens and hidden microphones. These telescreens and microphones are placed all across the city. In doing this, the party is able to monitor its members all the time. Many members live in the awareness that every move they make and word they speak could be watched. This is why Winston takes extra precautions not to be caught in sight of a telescreen as he rebels by writing in a diary and later during his affair with Julia.
The government in Nineteen Eighty-Four benefited greatly from their use of advanced technology, not unlike the current government of the United States. While the American Government does not go so drastic as to place cameras in every home in America that is not to say that other things do not take its place. With the passing of The Patriot Act in 2001 the government is able to monitor the moves of its citizens much closer.
The act was passed in hopes to avoid the tragic events of September 11, 2001 from repeating. The Patriot Act allows the government to intercept e-mails, voice mails, tap into telephone calls and any other form of communication. By this, the government is able to identify "supposed...