Controlling the Past
"Day by day and almost minute by minute the past was brought up to date. In this way every prediction made by the Party could be shown by documentary evidence to have been correct; nor was any item of news, or any expression of opinion, which conflicted with the needs of the moment, ever allowed to remain on record. All history was a palimpsest, scraped clean and reinscribed exactly as often as was necessary." - George Orwell, 1984
Speaking of 1984, does anyone remember the Presidential campaign that year? Ronald Reagan in a bit of a route over home boy Walter Mondale? Here’s a visual reminder documenting the extent of the victory. I didn’t think there was a continuing debate about who’s policies the American people gave the mandate to in that election.
Looks like I may be wrong about that. From yesterday’s New York Times, in an article about the personalities of John Kerry vs. John Edwards, this insight into what really happened in 1984:
“A majority of Americans disagreed with Ronald Reagan's policies in 1984, but he won because they liked him personally," said [pollster Frank] Luntz, who has advised Republican candidates.
Somewhere Fritz Mondale is sitting alone, gravely nodding to himself, and saying ‘where’s the beef? Yes, I was the beef. I AM the beef.’
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