this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2024
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United States | News & Politics

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[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 25 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

I know it's cliche by this point. But this one misattributed^1^ quote has become more prescient than ever.

They've learned that giving us new shiny shit every year will keep the majority of us mollified against all kinds of injustice.

^1^ - Commonly credited to George Orwell's novel. It's actually from the stage play adaptation.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 13 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I wouldn't glorify Orwell, he was violently reactionary, even Anarchists fighting alongside him questioned why he wasn't on the "other side." He had a deeply aristocratic worldview, admired Hitler, and despised the Working Class for their "stupidity." I recommend reading On Orwell as well as A Critical Read of Animal Farm.

[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Not glorifying Orwell. I'm aware of his history. The quote actually belongs to either Robert Icke or Duncan MacMillan; the two men who wrote the stage adaptation. Politics aside, it's a fitting quote.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 7 points 3 days ago

Fair enough! Just wanted to point it out as I think he leads a legacy dangerous to the left.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago

funny how such a big anticommunist meaning to predict socialism just ended up predicting capitalism

[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Essentially, we get to eat cake every so often, while bread rapidly becomes unaffordable.

[–] nomy@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 days ago

If you just give everyone unlimited bread sticks most people never even make it to the entree, and I don't think that's a bad thing.