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VeronicaVeronica Mata
3/3/2010
1984-LB Essay
The Potential of Government's Abuse of Power
“No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it. There is a remedy in human nature against tyranny, which will keep us safe under every form of government.”(Think) Some may wonder what this quote really implies. Could it imply that government will always abuse its power? Or could it mean that by human nature people know when the government is abusing its power, and know when to take action to it? This may be true in some cases, such as government in America, but what about the idea that sometimes no one is aware of how government is abusing its power? After reading both Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother and George Orwell’s 1984, the idea is formed of how government’s potential could lead to abuse of power. In Little Brother Marcus and his friends, after a bombing of the Bay Bridge, are arrested and falsely accused of being terrorists. Not until Marcus is released that he realizes the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) intent for San Francisco, and the ultimate fate of losing all of their constitutional rights in order to be safer from terrorists. Unlike the government in Little Brother, the control in the novel 1984 foreshadows the power that government could ultimately have. The only problem is whether or not someone, like Marcus, is willing to fight the powerful government, or Big Brother and the Party, in which the punishment is far worse, and the likeliness of success is low. In 1984, Orwell presents the reader with Winston, the main character, as the one man in his city of Oceania who is willing to fight for the rights given to people way before his time. In the end though, the result is not as victorious as Marcus’s, instead Winston is tortured and brainwashed, in which all want of revolting is lost. From the knowledge of government’s power under certain circumstances the concept can be understood but sometimes the realization of the control of any authority is not completely comprehended; the one thing that is hard to know is what power government will hold in the future.
The perception that can be understood is the potential of the government using its’ authoritative power in an abusive way such as enforcing regulations and incentives by means that are merciless. From reading 1984, examples are given that to support the abuse of the Party. In the city of Oceania, people live in gloomy and dirty apartments, and are given small rations of chocolate and wine. The excuse is in order to sacrifice for the army that is fighting, the army that doesn’t exist fighting in a war that doesn’t exist. Aside from having low food supply, the people of Oceania are put in terrible living conditions, this is described in the book, "Victory Mansions were old flats, built in 1930 or thereabouts, and were falling to pieces. The plaster flaked constantly from ceilings and walls, the pipes burst in every hard frost, the roof leaked whenever there was a snow, the heating system was usually running at half steam.."(Orwell 20) Later in the story, Winston, after being invited to a Party member’s home, discovers just how luxurious the living quarters of the Party members are. In addition to the rationing of food, “for the better of the people”, when the Party suspects someone as suspicion, they either imprison them in the Ministry of Love or exterminate them completely, any option is not justifiable only an assumption. Along with 1984, the method of determining who is a terrorist or not, used in Little Brother, strongly supports the effort the DHS makes in order to “insure safety”. Since the attacking of the Bay Bridge, the DHS made security incredibly strenuous so much that people have lost their rights of privacy. No longer can anything be done without the DHS knowing their every move made by each person. Since this is true in the story, many people of San Francisco become suspects of terrorism due to the fact that, like 1984, the DHS feels their resent activity is a little odd. Using the proof of government’s potential from Little Brother and 1984 it can relate to events that have happened in America that shows its potential power and how secretive the abuse is. The knowledge that can be gained is the fact that government has the ability to watch every person in this country but sometimes that power can be misused.
As related to the statement above, knowing the potential power that government can hold it is easy to not comprehend the concept of it all. Government is, “the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community.”(Dictionary) Even though, the government has a “control exercised over the actions of member, etc.”, to what extent will it go in order to keep its control? In Little Brother, after Marcus creates an internet system that goes behind the DHS’s security system. Once the DHS discovers the Internet system, or Xnet, they immediately go out in search for some of the thousands of people using it in San Francisco, which in turn result in many people being arrested and the security measures to increase. As the reader it is assumed that maybe the security measures are increases due to the fact that the DHS is afraid of losing its power. This is as much similar to reasons in 1984, because of the fact that many people were tortured and killed due to the fact that they were thinking thoughts against the government, or because they were act in ways that were thought unlawful to the Party. The thought of government being afraid to lose its power brings another question to mind, what justification does government have to act on punishment within and out of the country or city? For instance, what right did the DHS have to take away everyone’s rights to find the terrorist, or the fact that they are unwillingly arresting and questioning people that have nothing to do with anything? Or in 1984, what validation does the Party have to imprison and torture people just because they were acting suspicious? Many answers can be made to fill in the blanks, but it may never be known as to why government acts the way it does in cases like in Little Brother and 1984.
realize that ourthe rights given are more
Since learning government’s potential of power, questions still are left in which there are many answers, though one thing that is not certain about is where the knowledge will expand from here. It is learned that government can use its power to enforce absurd rules to insure that government can keep its power. Given this information, question as to why government feels it has the rationalization to act in certain situations. In finding realization in of government’s power potential, the only hope in making sure government does not receive power like in Little Brother and 1984 is to know that as humans it is important to keep the sense to know when government is not working for the benefit of the people living in it, and not blindly following.
Work Citied:

“No Veronica Mata
3/3/2010
1984-LB Essay
“No government power is what inpower government will hold in the future with the knowledge of government’s potential of power abuse in order to enforce unnecessary rules.future.
The perception that can be understood is the potential of the government using its’ authoritative power in an abusive way such as enforcing regulations and incentives by means that are merciless. From reading 1984, examples are given that to support the abuse of the Party. In the city of Oceania, people live in gloomy and dirty apartments, and are given small rations of chocolate and wine. The excuse is in order to sacrifice for the army that is fighting, the army that doesn’t exist fighting in a war that doesn’t exist. Aside from having low food supply, the people of Oceania are put in terrible living conditions, this is described in the book, "Victory Mansions were old flats, built in 1930 or thereabouts, and were falling to pieces. The plaster flaked constantly from ceilings and walls, the pipes burst in every hard frost, the roof leaked whenever there was a snow, the heating system was usually running at half steam.."(Orwell 20) Later in the story, Winston, after being invited to a Party member’s home, discovers just how luxurious the living quarters of the Party members are. In addition to the rationing of food, “for the better of the people”, when the Party suspects someone as suspicion, they either imprison them in the Ministry of Love or exterminate them completely, any option is not justifiable only an assumption. Along with 1984, the method of determining who is a terrorist or not, used in Little Brother, strongly supports the effort the DHS makes in order to “insure safety”. Since the attacking of the Bay Bridge, the DHS made security incredibly strenuous so much that people have lost their rights of privacy. No longer can anything be done without the DHS knowing their every move made by each person. Since this is true in the story, many people of San Francisco become suspects of terrorism due to the fact that, like 1984, the DHS feels their resent activity is a little odd. Using the proof of government’s potential from Little Brother and 1984 it can relate to events that have happened in America that shows its potential power and how secretive the abuse is. The knowledge that can be gained is the fact that government has the ability to watch every person in this country but sometimes that power can be misused.
a state, community.”(Dictionary).community.”(Dictionary) Even though, discovers the internetInternet system, or
From understanding, and trying to comprehend the power government hold, a sense of knowledge grows in which it is wondered where to go from here. The knowledge may be the fact that government feels it has the power to only benefit for itself leaving every citizen under its control in the dust. Awareness of the government watching every move made, and how it can be used for the worse, leaves a frightening thought on every perons mind. Knowing the government can assume one is a terrorist because acting in a certain way gives the suspicion of one. Though, knowing certain facts also draws questions as to how government can feel it has the right to falsely arrest and accuse, or sometimes torture. With the many questions made and the facts known, there is no true way to know as to where it might expand from here. The most important thing to know and to carry on with is the idea that even though the government in the books is over exaggerated; it is out of human nature to put such harsh conditions on people. The only way to prevent such events from happening and continueing is to not blindly follow, like those in Little Brother and 1984. It's the responsibilty as humans to realize that our rights are more important than the feeling of security in which government gives.
Since learning government’s potential of power, questions still are left in which there are many answers, though one thing that is not certain about is where the knowledge will expand from here. It is learned that government can use its power to enforce absurd rules to insure that government can keep its power. Given this information, question as to why government feels it has the rationalization to act in certain situations. In finding realization in of government’s power potential, the only hope in making sure government does not receive power like in Little Brother and 1984 is to know that as humans it is important to keep the sense to know when government is not working for the benefit of the people living in it, and not blindly following.
Dictionary.com. Government.12 Jan. 2010. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/government
Doctorow,Cory. Little Brother. New York City:Tom Doherty Associates,LLC,2008.
March 2010. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0933477.html
Orwell,George.1984.New York City:New American Library, 1949.
Salon.Shocking New Reavelation: Unchecked Governmnet Power Abused.3 March 2010. http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/03/06/nsls/

Thinkexist.com. Abuse of Power Quotes.13 Jan. 2010. http://thinkexist.com/quotations/abuse_of_power/WA
Washington Post. U.S. Web Tracking Plan Stirs Privacy Fears. 3 March 3 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/10/AR2009081002743.html
March 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture_and_the_United_States
Youtube.1984 George Orwell Movie Trailer(1984).1 March 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rBDUJTnNU
Youtube. Flobots Handlebars-Lyrics. 3 March 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0haCGrfPT1w

Salon.Shocking New Reavelation: Unchecked Governmnet Power Abused.3 March 2010. http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/03/06/nsls/
Thinkexist.com. Abuse of Power Quotes.13 Jan. 2010. http://thinkexist.com/quotations/abuse_of_power/WA
3 2010. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/10/AR2009081002743.html
Wikipedia. Torture March 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/10/AR2009081002743.html<
Youtube.1984 George Orwell Movie Trailer(1984).1 March 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rBDUJTnNU
Youtube. Flobots Handlebars-Lyrics. 3 March 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0haCGrfPT1w

Thinkexist.com. Abuse of Power Quotes.13 Jan. 2010. http://thinkexist.com/quotations/abuse_of_power/WA
Washington Post. U.S. Web Tracking Plan Stirs Privacy Fears. 3 March 3 2010. <
March 2010. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/10/AR2009081002743.html
Youtube.1984 George Orwell Movie Trailer(1984).1 March 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rBDUJTnNU
Youtube. Flobots Handlebars-Lyrics. 3 March 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0haCGrfPT1w

Dictionary.com. Government.12 Jan. 2010. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/government
Doctorow,Cory. Little Brother. New York City:Tom Doherty Associates,LLC,2008.
Infoplease. 10 Most Censored Countries. 3 March 2010. <
Orwell,George.1984.New York City:New American Library, 1949.
Salon.Shocking New Reavelation: Unchecked Governmnet Power Abused.3 March 2010. http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/03/06/nsls/
Jan. 2010. http://thinkexist.com/quotations/abuse_of_power/WAWashingtonhttp://thinkexist.com/quotations/abuse_of_power/WA
Washington Post. U.S. 2010. <
Youtube.com.1984
Wikipedia. Torture and United States. 3 March 2010. <
Youtube.1984 George Orwell 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rBDUJTnNU
Youtube. Flobots Handlebars-Lyrics. 3 March 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0haCGrfPT1w

Doctorow,Cory. Little Brother. New York City:Tom Doherty Associates,LLC,2008.
Orwell,George.1984.New York City:New American Library, 1949.
Thinkexist.com.Salon.Shocking New Reavelation: Unchecked Governmnet Power Abused.3 March 2010. http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/03/06/nsls/
Thinkexist.com. Abuse of Jan. 2010. http://thinkexist.com/quotations/abuse_of_power/Youtube.com.1984http://thinkexist.com/quotations/abuse_of_power/WAWashington Post. U.S. Web Tracking Plan Stirs Privacy Fears. 3 March 3 2010. <
Youtube.com.1984 George Orwell

Doctorow,Cory. Little Brother. New York City:Tom Doherty Associates,LLC,2008.
Orwell,George.1984.New York City:New American Library, 1949.
Jan. 2010. http://thinkexist.com/quotations/abuse_of_power/http://thinkexist.com/quotations/abuse_of_power/Youtube.com.1984 George Orwell Movie Trailer(1984).1 March 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rBDUJTnNU

form of government.”(Think).government.”(Think) Some may
The perception that can be understood is the potential of the government using its’ authoritative power in an abusive way such as enforcing regulations and incentives by means that are merciless. From reading 1984, examples are given that to support the abuse of the Party. In the city of Oceania, people live in gloomy and dirty apartments, and are given small rations of chocolate and wine. The excuse is in order to sacrifice for the army that is fighting, the army that doesn’t exist fighting in a war that doesn’t exist. Aside from having low food supply, the people of Oceania are put in terrible living conditions, this is described in the book, "Victory Mansions were old flats, built in 1930 or thereabouts, and were falling to pieces. The plaster flaked constantly from ceilings and walls, the pipes burst in every hard frost, the roof leaked whenever there was a snow, the heating system was usually running at half steam.."(Orwell 20) Later in the story, Winston, after being invited to a Party member’s home, discovers just how luxurious the living quarters of the Party members are. In addition to the rationing of food, “for the better of the people”, when the Party suspects someone as suspicion, they either imprison them in the Ministry of Love or exterminate them completely, any option is not justifiable only an assumption. Along with 1984, the method of determining who is a terrorist or not, used in Little Brother, strongly supports the effort the DHS makes in order to “insure safety”. Since the attacking of the Bay Bridge, the DHS made security incredibly strenuous so much that people have lost their rights of privacy. No longer can anything be done without the DHS knowing their every move made by each person. Since this is true in the story, many people of San Francisco become suspects of terrorism due to the fact that, like 1984, the DHS feels their resent activity is a little odd. Using the proof of government’s potential from Little Brother and 1984 it can relate to events that have happened in America that shows its potential power and how secretive the abuse is. The knowledge that can be gained is the fact that government has the ability to watch every person in this country but sometimes that power can be misused.
As related to the statement above, knowing the potential power that government can hold it is easy to not comprehend the concept of it all. Government is, “the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community.”(Dictionary). Even though, the government has a “control exercised over the actions of member, etc.”, to what extent will it go in order to keep its control? In Little Brother, after Marcus creates an internet system that goes behind the DHS’s security system. Once the DHS discovers the internet system, or Xnet, they immediately go out in search for some of the thousands of people using it in San Francisco, which in turn result in many people being arrested and the security measures to increase. As the reader it is assumed that maybe the security measures are increases due to the fact that the DHS is afraid of losing its power. This is as much similar to reasons in 1984, because of the fact that many people were tortured and killed due to the fact that they were thinking thoughts against the government, or because they were act in ways that were thought unlawful to the Party. The thought of government being afraid to lose its power brings another question to mind, what justification does government have to act on punishment within and out of the country or city? For instance, what right did the DHS have to take away everyone’s rights to find the terrorist, or the fact that they are unwillingly arresting and questioning people that have nothing to do with anything? Or in 1984, what validation does the Party have to imprison and torture people just because they were acting suspicious? Many answers can be made to fill in the blanks, but it may never be known as to why government acts the way it does in cases like in Little Brother and 1984.
Work Citied:
Dictionary.com. Government.12 Jan. 2010. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/government
Doctorow,Cory. Little Brother. New York City:Tom Doherty Associates,LLC,2008.
Orwell,George.1984.New York City:New American Library, 1949.
Thinkexist.com. Abuse of Power Quotes.13 Jan. 2010. http://thinkexist.com/quotations/abuse_of_power/