INGSOC

One of the most influential books I have ever read, no rewrite that, THE most influential book I have ever read was Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell. Ever since I was given it by my English teacher when I was 16 (an act I am still not sure whether I should be grateful for or upset by) I have been unable to see many parts of my life as not being in some way being reflected by this book. Upon finishing this book it was like the moment that Keanu Reeves character in the Matrix series has just swallowed his red pill and awoken to find the world like nothing he imagined. I forever saw everything in front of me as evidence that I was indeed living in such a world as envisaged by George Orwell. Only in a more subtle form.

Many would say I was probably suffering from anxiety and delusional episodes . Maybe.

The queue isn't getting any smaller!

However I find that invoking the memory of reading the book to be a useful way of dealing with what politicians are saying to me. The other phrase that can be useful is "Follow the money!"

What reminded me of Nineteen Eighty Four this time round (a bit like an LSD flashback I shouldn't wonder) was queuing in Boots the Chemist with my daughter at the Metro Centre. If ever you want evidence of the way human beings are manipulated against their better judgement you need look no further than the retail industry. The very way the shops are set out is designed to encourage you to spend. From Supermarkets having fresh fruit and veg at the entrance (giving the impression of freshness and stuff) to lining the queues at the checkouts with sweets and magazines.

Just such a stand existed in the queue I found myself in. It was a rack of the cheesy gossip magazines that some women seem keen on reading. These magazines were definitely not aimed at men. On spying this rack I was immediately put in mind of the methods used by the Inner Party in the book to control the Proles. According to one magazine the whole nation had turned against an actress from a televised soap opera. Whilst I was aware of the soap opera I was unaware of who the actress was and thus thought the statement was a bit of a stretch. But the content was similar across a whole stack of these magazines. 

I am not picking out women here as being culprits by the way. The male equivalent would be Top Gear and other such publications - not to mention "top shelf" publications. I just happened to be passing these magazines when it struck me.

Top shelf Please!

My immediate reaction was that surely there are weightier matters to be concerned about in life. Especially with an election coming up - even if it is the European election. 

I quickly admonished myself. I knew nothing of the lives of those in my queue. It is very self righteous of me to not only dictate what people should read but not even to consider that this material may be a relief from the every day woes for instance. Every one needs a bit of fun. Gawd knows I waste enough of my day trying to make it more interesting!

Like I said I may be suffering from my anxiety symptoms seeing the work of Big Brother everywhere I look. 

Or am I?

But it does bring me round to the European elections. In Ninety Eighty Four we had become Airstrip One and in a superstate that included the USA. Europe had been conquered by the old Soviet Union, so by part of the EU we are putting a bit of Orwellian vision to bed. Although we are creating something of a superstate by and by.

Should we fight this? Should we just opt out? 

I have argued against UKIP on several occasions. I worry I actually promote their cause by only talking about them. Still I feel compelled to try and defeat them.

As a politicians they are a one issue party. The most compelling evidence against them is that you never see or hear from anyone in the party other than Nigel Farrage. All the other parties have candidates and minions who are more than happy to show up and argue the toss with him but only Nigel  Farrage ever appears for UKIP. In my neck of the woods the local TV had a couple of sound bites from him when he came by. We had a couple of soundbites from all the main parties too - but their hopefuls. Not even a picture of the local UKIP candidate. 

If and when UKIP win seats in the European Parliament will they have been in fact elected by people who thought they were voting for Nigel Farrage. For my part we stand more chance of influencing a more democratic and accountable Europe by being in it than by  leaving and watching on the sidelines. We would surely still be dragged into disputes in the future but be less able to be positively involved before it is too late.

Nigel Farrage's stated intentions are that he wishes more control to the London Parliament than is currently the case. To be honest I am not sure, after all this time that I trust Westminster with my government any more than I do Brussels.

The other part of UKIP support that bothers me is the xenophobic aspect of being anti immigration. 

I don't really get the immigration problem. I don't meet these people. We do have two Pakistani doctors and a Polish one where I work but My lifestyle is not being altered or hindered as a result. The North East of England is not a hot bed of immigration it has to be said. Not surprising really, the winters are long and dark and there is little work. 

On a recent TV debate Nigel Farrage noted displeasure at hearing so many different languages on public transport in London and that was a bad thing. I have no such problem. 

I am not into conformity in a big way. I dislike the wearing of uniforms (don't get me started on "corporate identity"), I embrace difference. I may be called unpatriotic but I am not entirely sure  what it means to be English in terms of character and, judging from our recent history, is it something worth saving? I don't even like the Royal Family. That is a bit strong. I have never met them. But I am not in favour of a constitutional monarchy. 

East end of London according to UKIP

I see the fact that so many different people can come and live together in the same place in reasonable order as a definite bonus. I am a lazy person and I relish the fact that I can enjoy the variety of cultures that abound on this fair world without having to go through all that unnecessary stress and hassle that passes for modern travel.

I realise that change can be uncomfortable. But given a different set of circumstances I would wager the Nigel  Farrage's of this world would encourage change in the work place for instance especially if it meant fatter profits. The world is a smaller place and international travel is easier and affordable for so many that it is inevitable that there will be more mix and match of cultures in the future.

Bill Bryson once wrote in his book of the origins of American English (Made in America 1998) that each wave of immigration bought with it a new and exciting development of American life, from the wild west to movies in the 20th century. Indeed without immigration the USA would not exist in it's current form. A fact that first nation Americans probably regret quite a bit I admit!

My point is that the xenophobes seem to want to enforce a conformity of what they think Englishness should be (Nineteen Eighty Four called it English Socialism or INGSOC for short - the title of this post)

Part of INGSOC was the order of things. The elite Inner Party, the middle class Outer Party and the Proles (the rest of Society). Now call me paranoid but if you look at our political elite at the moment how many have actually come from humble origins. Even Thatch had an ordinary upbringing. There are an alarming number of old Etonian's in the present cabinet. A school for the elite if ever there was one. The Labour benches are not much better to be honest. There was a time when a fair number of politicians got there after a period working up through the ranks as it were. They were ex businessmen and former shop stewards. There has always been a professional politician type but they seem prevalent now. When I was young I felt that the politicians were too old. Set in their ways and unable to see the world as it is rather than as it was. presently I wonder if today's politicians have ever known anything else. A lack of real life experience. 

In conclusion UKIP are most likely "English Socialists" and Nigel Farrage intends to become Big Brother and we should heap derision on them for being petty and small minded.