Dateline: 18 July 2014
"War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength."
—George Orwell (1984)
As one more evidence that America has fully entered the world of Orwellian doublespeak, I offer the Independence Card shown above. It is the state of Maryland's version of an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.
An EBT card is the modern equivalent of what used to be known as food stamps. The government issues the card to people who are needy. The people take their card to stores and use it to get "free" food. A recent statistic I found stated that 20% of Americans now use EBT cards.
238 years ago, when America's Declaration of Independence was signed, the word independence meant something different than it apparently now means in America. According to Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary, this is what the word "independence" used to mean:
"A state in which a person does not rely
on others for subsistence; ability to
support one's self."
This brings to my mind an interesting reality…
Back during The Great Depression, needy people in America did not have EBT cards. There were soup kitchens set up to help feed the poor…
In the current form of economic depression America finds itself in, soup kitchens are not necessary because the poor (20% of America) now have EBT cards. And EBT cards can be used to buy a lot more than just soup…
This blog post is not being written to disparage all people who use EBT cards. I know friends and family who use EBT cards, and need the assistance.
My purpose here is to point out that America is truly in an economic depression. Besides that, I just want to make it clear that people who are dependent on the government for their subsistence are really not independent.
"In a time of universal deceit,
telling the truth
is a revolutionary act."
telling the truth
is a revolutionary act."
—George Orwell
Truth!
ReplyDeleteI know some families who both work and are not qualified for EBT. There is no one who feeds them. I think the new name is the "working poor"
Orwell would have been amused, but not surprised, I suspect.
ReplyDeleteAdd to that the fast food joints and ATM machines that will accept them.
ReplyDeleteGrace and peace.
Agreed! A few need assistance temporarily to get back on their feet....but many are dependent on the system.
ReplyDeleteIf people knew how bad off the Great Depression was, this is nothing compared to that!
I'm again totally with you Herrick. We are in such a state of political correctness that there is no need for destruction of the 1st amendment. It's already being destroyed because we self sensor. I am guilty of that for sure but try to speak truth. One of the greatest examples of this Orwellian double speak I frequently refer to is when Dick Cheney actually came out and said,(not exact quote)"We don't torture, we use enhanced interrogation techniques." I can't believe the balls this guy has. Even after being vilified and repulsed at the end of the Bush years, they still trot this guy out do criticize Obama. Sorry boys, YOU BOTH are guilty of numerous war crimes all for profit. They will burn in hell if they don't repent. Here's Orwell's final warning. We need to heed it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXm5hklbBsA
20% of Americans are on EBT, that's 60 million people! To put that into perspective,if those EBT users were a country it would be the 24th most populous country in the world. Its only 2 million short of equaling the combined populations of TX and CA. That's a bunch of people!
ReplyDeleteMike R, Great Video, Thank You.
ReplyDeleteIn Maryland you can't use EBT Cards for liquor and many other things. The Cards replaced Food Stamp books.
Although it can look like just using the current "money method" it's just one more step towards everything good old George warned us about.
Personally, I have come to the conclusion that we are already further along than most of us want to believe, then another day, I think it will take until our Grandchildren's Children are of full age for it to end in the Lord's return.
Torn between both ways of thinking, but am very sure that we have come a lot further than anyone knows.
Watch over all of us Lord.