Is America Becoming a Dystopian Society?

Fahrenheit 451 was written in 1951 by Ray Bradbury about a world where books are banned and burned and individual thought is suppressed. In short, it's about a world where censorship is used to control the masses.

1984 by George Orwell was released in 1949. Another book about government control of the masses, this time using brainwashing in various forms and the threat that "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!" Cities even come complete with two way televisions.

Brave New World, released in 1931 and written by Aldous Huxley, about a utopian society where the government keeps everyone happy through government induced stimulation, mainly the drug soma.

Three of the most powerful books written in the last one hundred years as well as three of the most challenged and banned books. All three considered "dangerous" because of their dystopian view points.

Year Zero, not only an album by Nine Inch Nails, but an alternate reality game that was used to promote the CD. Year Zero depicts another dystopian society, where the government is controlling the masses by a substance in the drinking water known as parepin. Cleverly disguised as a psychotropic drug to boost the immune system in the event of biological warfare, its purpose is to make one easier to control. According to the story line many under the influence of parepin experience hallucinations of The Presence, an omnipotent being.

Instead of getting the attention that Orwell, Huxley and Bradbury received over their depiction of futuristic worlds with the government in absolute control by various means, Trent Reznor was criticized for his marketing strategy of the CD. It seemed to go over most heads that Trent was expressing his displeasure with the Bush Administration and how it was handling things.

Consider that in the last few years we have seen the following happen: