Are we living in a dystopia? Why do I ask?

[raccoon]

I was just looking at the Wikipedia article on DYSTOPIA. I used to love to read novels about future dystopias.

The article lists some common traits of a dystopian society. I only include a few here that I thought were particularly relevant.

1. nation-state ruled by an upper class with few democratic ideals

2. state propaganda programs and educational systems that coerce most citizens into worshipping the state and its government, in an attempt to convince them into thinking that life under the regime is good and just

3. strict conformity among citizens and the general assumption that dissent and individuality are bad

4. fictional rivalries between groups that actually operate as a cartel

5. insistence by the forces of the establishment that all problems are due to the action of its enemies and their dupes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dystopia#Common_traits_of_a_dystopian_society

#4 especially interests me. I thought "Democrats and Republicans"--to an extent. Anyone out there got any other ideas about fictional rivalries?

[tkmorris]

1. Exhibit A: Joe Lieberman eom

[AllegroRondo]

2. fictional rivalry - media vs government

or I should say "liberal media" vs "conservative government officials"

[msgadget]

3. Certainly seems so based on this definition

Depressingly, these also apply:

Social stratification, where social class is strictly defined and enforced, and social mobility is non-existent (see caste system).


A nation-state ruled by an upper class with few democratic ideals


Insistence by the forces of the establishment:

that it provides the best of all possible worlds;
that all problems are due to the action of its enemies and their dupes

[Theres-a]

4. Orwell Rolls in his Grave

Available at netflix.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[newswolf56]

6. Dystopia by definition since Reagan's election; the nation deliberately...

yanked off the New Deal course and pointed in the dystopic direction by the assassinations of the 1960s.

[leftofthedial]

7. #4 also applies to Murka and the ME "terrorists"

who are funded primarily by the bushturd's partners the Saudis.