The Infantilization of the American Citizen:
Newspeak and The Art of The Steal

by
Max Maxwell and Melete

"Ur-Fascism speaks Newspeak. Newspeak was invented by Orwell, in 1984, as the official language of Ingsoc, English Socialism. But elements of Ur-Fascism are common to different forms of dictatorship. All the Nazi or Fascist schoolbooks made use of an impoverished vocabulary, and an elementary syntax, in order to limit the instruments for complex and critical reasoning. But we must be ready to identify other kinds of Newspeak, even if they take the apparently innocent form of a popular talk show."
       - Umberto Eco, Ur-Fascism, 1995.

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction / Abstract
  
• 2. Subverting Reason and The Theft of a Nation
  
• 3. Knowledge, Reason, and Honesty are The Foundation of All Human Good
  
• 4. The Function of Knowledge and Honesty in The Structure of Reasoning
  
• 5. Orwell's Newspeak and The U.S. Brand of Orwellian Talk
  
• 6. The Structure and Implementation of the U.S. Brand of Orwellian Talk
  
• 7. A Preamble to Orwellian Methods and Habits
  

THE METHODS OF THE
ORWELLIAN STYLE OF
U.S. POLITICAL TALK

• 8. Avoiding Knowledge Through Irrelevant Gossip
  
• 9. Avoiding Knowledge Through Bigotry
  
• 10. Avoiding Knowledge Through Changing The Topic
  
• 11. Avoiding Knowledge Through Replacing Facts with Opinions
  
• 12. Avoiding Knowledge Through Selective Focus
  
• 13. Reducing Vocabulary Through One Word Translations and Arguments
  
• 14. Reducing Vocabulary Through Slogans, Memes, and Talking Points
  
• 15. Reducing Perspectives Through Simplistic Dichotomies
  
• 16. Reducing Perspectives Through Media Echo Chambers
  
• 17. Destroying American Reasoning Through Time and Space Constraints
  
• 18. The Perfect Orwellian Storm: Freedom is Slavery
  

SOCRATES
AND
THE ART OF POLITICAL REFORM

• 19. Honesty is The Foundation of All Reform
  
• 20. False Claims of Knowledge in Orwellian Discourse
  
• 21. Socrates' Ignorance as The Beginning of All Solutions
  
• 22. Instrumental and Values Reasoning
  
• 23. The Power of Recognizing and Admitting Ignorance
  
• 24. Recognizing Our Ignorance of One Another is The Beginning of Real Political Talk
  
• 25. Ignorance is Necessary for The Fullness of Our Freedom
  

A GUIDE TO ENGAGING
THE POWER OF
REAL POLITICAL TALK

• 26. Preamble to
  Engaging The Power
  of Real Political Talk
  
• 27. A Guide to Engaging The Power
  of Real Political Talk
  
• 28. Learn to Stay on Topic
  
• 29. Voluntarily Give Up Using All Partisan Talk
  
• 30. Take.Your.Time.
  
• 31. Examine and Question all Claims Made In Political Talk
  
• 32. Examine your own Values, Goals, and Principles
  
• 33. Work to Create Irrefutable Common Ground: This is The Foundation of a Nation
  
• 34. THE ENGINE THAT POWERS IT ALL:
  Become skillful at recognizing and admitting your own ignorance.
  

A Talk Based on this Essay:
The Crisis of Our Democracy
and The Common Good:
Taking Back our Political Power