re: Hillary thinks 1984 is about the importance of trusting politicians and the media

quote:

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"Attempting to define reality is a core feature of authoritarianism," the former secretary of state wrote in her new book, "What Happened." "This is what the Soviets did when they erased political dissidents from historical photos. This is what happens in George Orwell's classic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four when a torturer holds up four fingers and delivers electric shocks until his prisoner sees five fingers as ordered," she added.

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So she opens the paragraph like this, clearly stating that defining reality and undermining objectivity is a "core feature" of authoritarian systems/leaders like the Soviets and the
government of Oceana in 1984. Clearly not an endorsement of unchecked government authority. She then, accurately but somewhat clumsily, goes on to point out that destroying alternative sources of information or authority, which could serve as a credible check to State power (in this case the Office of the President), is critical to this effort. And that includes delegitimizing institutions such as:
1. Media - Check
2. Polls (that you don't like) - Check
3. SMEs in a variety of fields from diplomacy and arms to science and medicine - Check
4. Other government leaders to include Congressional leadership, senior career officials, and one's own appointed leaders (McConnell, Ryan, McCain, DoS, The IC, the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, etc) - Check

She's not arguing that the message of 1984 is to trust media and the government. She's saying that the story illustrates the importance totalitarian states place on abasing all competing centers of moral, intellectual, or actual authority. The idea that "I and my inner circle are the only ones you can trust" is classic totalitarian inception. Not saying Trump is actually IRL pursuing dictatorial authority, because he frankly doesn't know what to do with the powers he already has. But his entire public narrative fits that to a letter. Good thing most aren't buying this particular brand.