Threatened Individuality (Revised)
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It’s the twenty-first century, and eyes exist all around us. It’s as if the new millennium marked the end of privacy and the start of a watchful period. Cameras lurk around every corner, and behind the screens we spend hours each day on. Advancing technology keeps tabs on every aspect of our personal lives. The government has wiggled its way into education, business, entertainment, and more. We are never alone, even when we’re by ourselves. George Orwell imagined a similar society in 1984. While we might not wear overalls every day or attempt to erase history, our world has a lot in common with Orwell’s fictitious civilization. Government regulation and surveillance surpassed a comfortable point long ago. In the all-too-familiar world of 1984, individualism and eccentricity pose an extreme threat. “To do anything that suggested a taste for solitude… was always slightly dangerous” (Orwell 82). We are at risk for losing our sense of individuality.
Regulations are a significant facet of government presence. “Well-chosen and carefully crafted regulations can protect consumers from dangerous products and ensure they have information to make informed choices.” It is necessary for the government to play a role in our lives. It protects our inalienable rights and ensures that we live harmoniously together. However, government regulations can be abused and infringe on our right to privacy. As the government becomes more involved in our personal lives, it begins to threaten the cultural aspects of our nation. The Western World is primarily known for its individualistic nature. We pride ourselves on being self-sufficient, responsible, and independent. Our country’s core values are centered around the idea of individualism. As government regulations and surveillance become more and more overwhelming, we near the ideals of a collectivist society. Collectivism is “the idea that the individual’s life belongs not to him but to the group or society of which he is merely a part.” It places the “greater good” over individual rights. When this is the case, we near the psychological phenomenon known as group think. We lose our sense of self and live with the purpose of conforming to others. When everyone is acting in similar ways, government control becomes more plausible. An example of this is found in the United States Department of Homeland Security. Outside observers claim that leaders within the homeland security enterprise share similar beliefs and viewpoints. As a result, decisions within this department are rarely questioned, our country’s national security is put at risk, and the power of the government is increased. The government encourages uniformity because that’s what it benefits from.
Many may argue that conformity and increased regulation are for the betterment of our country and its citizens. Proper regulation is required to smoothly run a country as large and powerful as the United States. To protect our freedoms and well-being, everything must be regulated so that tyranny can be prevented. If conformity comes as a result, it won’t harm anyone. Collectivism is beneficial to many societies. Instead of emphasizing values like self-reliance, it focuses on the importance of strong family units and teamwork. These are positive aspects of human nature, but can be detrimental when put to the extreme. When the idea of group becomes more valued than the self, we lose our nation’s original core principles. Our country was built to thrive as an individualist society. We must keep regulation and government presence in check to ensure that we can do so.
We must draw a line with regulation, surveillance, and overall government presence in our lives. It is destroying the sense of individualism that our nation is founded upon. As a solution, one might encrypt their data to further secure their personal information or limit their technology use. The outcome of unrestricted government action is incredibly toxic to our society. We must view Orwell’s 1984 as a severe warning. Let us recognize the danger of an invasive government and take necessary precautions to protect our individuality.
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