Mantaining Control in a Nation

Power and truth play different but equal roles in maintaining control in a nation. Modern societies create regimes of truth that are enforced by power structures such as government, discipline and laws. When it comes to power, the government, queen or dictator is in charge. They tell their citizens what the main expectations are and how to abide by them. Nevertheless, the government should uphold fairness and not abuse its power unless it is necessary. Power is something that is earned; it is not something that is granted by default. The proper qualities, such as integrity, assertiveness and truth, in government or person can benefit its leadership skill set. Sometimes truth can be manipulated by the government to influence its people so that they will always have faith in their government. This should only happen if the nation is in great peril. As an individual, however, one should be able to see right through certain situations and facts. Although these two factors, power and truth, can alter a person, it cannot change a person completely if he or she is willing to be knowledgeable about their government and environment.

A government creates laws based on morals to manage different types of behaviors and problems within the society. By setting laws, rules and restrictions, a government has the power to limit its citizens. In the United States, laws are formed from four sources: constitutional law, statutory law, administrative law and the common law. These are passed through Congress, the House of Representatives, and the Senate where it will be examined and voted upon. Once the law is accepted among the committees, it is given to the president to vote or veto it. Then if the president vetoes the bill, it can still become a l...

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...ns. The government, meanwhile, expresses its role in an unreasonably dishonest fashion. Manipulation of truth throughout the Party is a complete breakdown of the independence of an individual’s mind. Independence and will are replaced by a fear of, and faith in, the Party. Individual thought has become so foreign to the population, that it accepts that the Party. Although this is a sign of being assertive in Oceania, the Party is going about it for all the wrong reasons as well as abusing its power. At the end of the novel, Big Brother was successful in turning Winston into a brain washed drone. The Party changed Winston for the betterment of the government, to keep control. Even though this shows how in the end the Party was victorious, it doesn't have any integrity behind it. While Winston is held captive, O'Brien confronts him about the Party's means of power.