2004 = 1984?

While society strives to achieve continual innovation and improvement upon years past, the Bush administration seems to cherish the distant days of yester-year. George Orwell would certainly be proud. Or would he? The current administration has left me dumbfounded by its stubborn insistence on faulty information: Saddam Hussein was a threat, al-Qaeda had ties to Iraq, the war is going splendidly, bin Laden was killed by a Hellfire missile fired from an unmaned CIA drone, North Korea is not a threat, George W. Bush proudly served his country during Vietnam, George W. Bush did not have a drunk driving accident, George W. Bush was not addicted to cocaine, Dick Cheney had nothing to do with Halliburton's receipt of a no-bid contract to supply the U.S. Army in Iraq, Colin Powell is valued for more than his skin color... the list is virtually endless! Today, however, the administration reached a new low in its attempt to distort and even reverse the facts of reality. Everyone's read 1984, right? It's my favorite book, and the main premise is that Big Brother (i.e. The Man, i.e. The Government) is all-powerful. If Big Brother says we are at war with East Asia, then we are at war with East Asia and have always been at war with East Asia. If O'Brian is holding up one finger in front of Winston, yet Big Brother says he is holding up two, then he is holding up two, goddammit! Enter Tommy Thompson, the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In the midst of the largest flu vaccine shortage in the history of the nation -- where the entire St. Luke's Hospital system in the world's largest medical center possesses only enough vaccine for its employees and not a single vaccine for its patients -- Thompson announced that we should not panic. If there are lines at the nearest vaccine administering clinic, we should not wait. There will be plenty for everyone! In fact, if we encounter a clinic that is lacking in vaccine, we should personally telephone Mr. Thompson and he promises to send out some more vaccine. FROM WHERE, DUMBASS? Bushie already said that Canada is off-limits (drugs from third world nations might kill us, after all). In that case, WHERE ARE ALL THE DEAD CANADIANS? But I digress... My point is that today's announcement perfectly epitomizes the refusal of this administration to accept reality. Beyond the mere acceptance of reality, this government chooses to invent its very own reality. Why can't I see this marvelous vision of society? I'd certainly be happier if I could somehow be convinced that we're kicking ass in Iraq, making lots of money at our (secure) jobs, and having faith in the almighty Lord, who brought 4 hurricanes in a row to Bush's brother's state! Unfortunately, I just don't see it. Someone show me the light. Now. Please.

Bush/Cheney '84

Music of the Moment: "The Ratio of People to Cake" by None More Black (from Philly!)