It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him.

Thus begins Orwell's classic 1984. I would be amused by all of the people who think we now live in a police state if they weren't so serious. Look at how many dissenters there are in the public sphere. Would they be allowed to remain if we were in a police state? Saddam was re-elected with 99% of the vote.

Liberals and other anti-GOP dissenters should be quite grateful that George Bush is in the White House. It could be much worse and we could be in an actual police state instead of one where some people just happen to dare to think and act differently from the status quo. And they dare to do so for deeply held personal beliefs, not for mere political convenience.

Shocking I know, but such is the world in which we live. Thankfully!

~Matt