ULife asked: What is an issue in politics that is most important to you?

In a 1962 speech at the prestigious UC Berkley, Brave New World author Aldous Huxley said:

“If you are going to control any population for any length of time, you must bring in an element of getting people to consent to what is happening to them. We are in process of developing a whole series of techniques, which will enable the controlling oligarchy – who have always existed and will presumably always exist – to get people to love their servitude…”

What is Mr. Huxley speaking about you might ask? Why, the state of the world and where mankind now finds themselves.

Big Brother

George Orwell’s novel 1984 describes a society that is oppressed by its government, an oligarchical dictatorship.  There is perpetual war, constant government surveillance, and hedonistic brainwashing.

The 2001 Patriot Act has compromised many of our civil liberties and there is now more government in all facets of life than ever before. Throw in the “War on Terror,” cell phones that are able to track our every moment and the very near implanted ID chips, I’d say 1984 sounds a lot like 2011.

By contrast, but still frightening, Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World provides a different perspective. Instead of government oppression, there would be no need for it because people would be so distracted by the petty on goings of everyday life.

Social critic Neil Postman says that where Orwell feared books being banned, Huxley feared no one would want to read books anyway. That we would become an egotistic and passive people, concerned only with the trivial. In a world of Facebook, Hulu and American Idol, Huxley’s version of the world is not too far off either.

Turn on your radio right now.  What are the chances that the song you’re hearing is about promiscuity and meaningless sex? What about drinking?

Your chances are looking pretty good.

The message from mainstream media these days is pretty clear: Do what you want. Have sex, spend your hard earned money on overpriced clothes, drink more than you should, because there might not even be a tomorrow. What kind of message does this send?

A pretty dangerous one.

The Future

With young people focused only on partying, Facebook stalking and Kim Kardashian, it’s probably a pretty safe assumption that many of America’s youth are not too concerned with the changes going on in the political climate. In return, those in power are taking advantage of our ADHD’d population. However, I’m pretty sure this is what Huxley meant when the masses would love their servitude.

Distract people to the point where they unquestioningly just fall in line.

Fortunately, people are waking up and many of us do not want to just fall in line. If you take a look at the current Occupy Wall Street movement, it is painfully clear to see that many Americans are unhappy with the current situation. They certainly should be.

Unfortunately, the notion of 1% of the elite owning 99% of the resources is not a new trend, but in fact a very old one dating back centuries. However for the first time in the history of man has information has been so widely distributed, and available to anyone who seeks to know the truth. If enough people educate themselves to the poisons and distractions we have been programmed to accept and enjoy, a serious change in world consciousness for the better is possible.

So do yourself a favor. Read a book. Scour the internet for something other than celebrity gossip. Find out who the leaders are, who the puppets are and what their motives may be. Read about trends in media and television that you’re soaking up subliminally every day. Think outside of your box and challenge your beliefs.

Otherwise, you might as well just listen to (the appropriately named) Gaga and “just dance.”