Paul,

It would seem that you are playing fast and loose with Orwell's name.

You probably are thinking that his 1984 vision is predominating in the machinations of your state government, rather than the fiercely democratic writer of so many fine works of critical social analysis (both novelistic and 'essayistic').

He would probably be pointing a finger (or some other member) at those who F* over the commonweal along with you. Come to think of it, Homage to Catalonia would have more insight into your state government, than 1984.

Cheers,

Peter Melvoin (electronic mail, October 27, 2001).

Editor's Note: If I understand Paul Goldman's analogy correctly, the core of his reference is to the Virginia General Assembly and to "Animal Farm": to wit, all people are created equal but that some believe they are created more equal than others, thus disenfranchisement....

I don't think there is any real thread of thought police in Goldman's remarks though there might be a thread of doublethink, hence 1984.

I would tend to agree that Paul is a bit fast and loose talking about Orwellian philosophy as if the vision predominating in Orwell's books is in fact Orwell's own vision rather than a reflection of Orwell's critical social analysis.

In Homage to Catalonia Orwell cynically asserts that Russia wanted to help maintain stability and the status quo in Spain because they were allies and had many treaties and alliances.... and that he laments "'Why can't we drop all of this political nonsense and get on with the war?'"

Perhaps Orwell could make a case that the General Assembly is unconcerned with one-person, one-vote and political parties are unconcerned with one-person, one-vote because of vested interlocking interests and that they might just prefer to "get on with the war", i.e. the special election.

We will just have to wait to see what transpires.