The Orwellian dystopia of 2015

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  • DraganOfStip
    Senior Member
    • Aug 2011
    • 1253

    The Orwellian dystopia of 2015

    I recently came across this blog,it makes so much sense I'd like to share it here.

    The Orwellian Dystopia of 2015. Its inevitable downfall.

    Sunday, 25 October 2015
    Big Brother watches, and his name is Nikola Gruevski

    In 1984 George Orwell describes a dystopia in which Big Brother is watching you. Throughout the book we have a desire to learn of big brother himself. We know he is the political party in power. We know he watches, and he has been for a long time. He has managed to convince the population that he is their protector, all while enslaving them and taking away that which makes them human. Their rationale. Their emotions. They submit to the party and through the party, the country.

    To the modern day reader, this scenario sounds awfully like present day North Korea. A dictator which segregates himself from the rest of humanity and prevents his population from leaving, denying them the possibility of experiencing a different way of life, to experience a new way of thinking, and as such prevents them from experiencing what the world has to offer. Yet national pride is high. The rhetoric that a dictator must hold is that what he is doing is in the interest of the general population, and what better way to do this than by military and national pride

    What may be more surprising to most however, is that these kind of dictators exist more closer to home. Right here in Europe. For most Europeans it would take less than a 3 hour flight to arrive to the Balkan Peninsula. In the Balkans you will find small countries, almost all with a population smaller than that of London. And it is here that you can find some of the finest examples of corrupt governments run by irresponsible leaders.

    I will now turn to the focus of my post. The dystopian society created by Nikola Gruevski. The Big Brother of the Republic of Macedonia. The person who managed to convince the population that a vote for him is a vote for Macedonia. A vote for the opposition is a vote against Macedonia. It is a traitorous vote. He is the head of a party who uses the national hymn to incite feelings of patriotisms during political speeches. He wants you to believe he and his party are Macedonia. He and his party are representing your interests. He and his party will provide for you. And if you do not vote for him, you are a traitor to Macedonian people and their interests. Perhaps he has taken lessons from Kim Jong-un?

    Macedonia is a small country with a population of approximately 2 million people. For the 2 million people that call Macedonia home, the society they live in has changed dramatically over the past decades. The older generation remember the glorious days of Yugoslavia, pre-break up. To many, those were the best days of their lives. The younger generation know of those days only through stories from their elders. These stories usually begin with 'It was better in those days. Everyone was employed, everyone was happy'.

    What the young generation is faced today is what would be considered a nightmare to most from Western Europe. Youth unemployment is through the roof, young people do two, sometimes three university degrees in the hopes of getting a job. There is no job awaiting them at the end of it. Many go to work in whatever job opportunity presents itself. And these opportunities would pay 10 euros daily - if lucky.

    With an average salary of 352 euros a month (source: http://goo.gl/TyzaJT), it is rare for young people to have the opportunity to go abroad to study. In fact, even when money is not an issue, they are faced by another issue. That is that Macedonia is not a member of the European Union. Almost all universities would therefore charge them non-EU rates for tutorship - which can reach the thousands of euros per semester.

    So how does our Big Brother fair in this society? For the past 9 years he has been in power. Those on the inner circle are living a fantastic life. Not long after Gruevski rose to power his chief of interior had purchased a stolen car valued at £75.000. This car also happened to be stolen, and to belong to David Beckham (http://goo.gl/640pDG). Since then the government corruption has grown exponential. And the biggest money laundering schemes are not even hidden away - they are right in the centre of Skopje, the capital. In a project called Skope 2014, the government spent 560 million euros on what is possibly the most divisive cosmetic procedure ever. The investment went into statues and new neo-classical buildings.

    Though faced with an admittedly tough job - integrating a country which has recently succeeded from a socialist regime into a democratised, European-centric society with a government that takes care of its people, he has managed to convert this country into a business with which to line his pockets.

    How has he done this and been able to get away with it? By closing down opposition media (http://goo.gl/8ZXA35) and controlling state media (worst country for freedom of press - http://goo.gl/9w8GxB),by illegally phone tapping thousands of individuals including journalists and politicians (http://goo.gl/VK1vWV). Those of different mind are silenced in what are sometimes creative, sometimes brutal ways.

    In a society in which senior public figures are accountable for their actions, the actions by Nikola Gruevski would be deemed criminal and he would be sent to prison. However, he has total control of Macedonia's judicial system. Therefore there is no prosecutor who would open a case upon him. And let us not forget that until recently it was his cousin, Mijalkov who was in control of the state intelligence services.

    What have we seen from the international community in response? For the most party EU has been very lenient with Mr. Gruevski. I do believe that this is because he played his cards well. Whenever Gruevski would be summoned by Brussels for EU-integrative talks he would promise much, yet deliver little. In fact, Gruevski and his political opponent Zoran Zaev have been summoned numerous times to Brussels. Each time it feels as if they were school children who were summoned by the headmaster who is far too busy to deal with them, they received a slap on the wrist, and they head back to the playing ground where they continue as if nothing was.

    It is also worth noting that it is most definitely not in Gruevski's interest to join the EU - for this would limit his power within his own country, and god forbid - he may have to be accountable for his actions!

    The games played by Mr. Gruevski are nearing their end however. The European Union has woken up to the fact that he is a crook. He failed to fulfil his word given at the deal at Przhino - which would have paved the way for essential reforms which would allow for fair elections. The last elections - held only last year - were full of fraud and corruption (http://goo.gl/CCTO2r) .

    Losing the backing of his European Union friends, he has turned to the biggest propaganda project he has ever developed. As if something out of a detective novel, he has gotten his propaganda crew together and posted videos of himself sorting out problems in small communities. How convenient that he suddenly has the consciousness to go out and solve community problems just as he is losing the power battle.

    Though to anyone observing the situation it is clear that Gruevski is a crook and that his ability to run a country is as good as a sharks ability to fly, he remains popular among some for gold standard reason - money talks. He has employed far too many people in the public sector. He uses funds obtained on credit to employ people. These people do not add any value to the organization, they are just there because people need a job and a job provides loyalty. And when you have 10% of the population or more employed in public sector -there are no official figures, as there is no transparency in the government, then you have the families of 10% of the population that will vote for you.


    The demise of Gruevski is slowly happening. People have in general woken up to the epic lies and deceptive maneuvres he has done over the last decade, yet still there are fears he will be able to intimidate enough voters and to silence enough opposition to remain in power.

    It remains to be seen.


    Though I tend to disagree with some parts,most of the text is spot on and reflect the real picture today in Macedonia.
    Nevertheless,Big Brother keeps watching you here.

    Last edited by DraganOfStip; 02-26-2016, 04:30 AM.
    ”A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims... but accomplices”
    ― George Orwell
  • Toska
    Member
    • Sep 2008
    • 137

    #2
    and how is this any different to whats happening in any other country in the world, every country and every leader is corrupt, they may start off legit, but someone always finds dirt on them blackmails them and makes them bend the rules, its how politics works and its never going to stop because people are greedy by nature, Gruevski and VMRO and shit but its better then other option.

    Comment

    • Risto the Great
      Senior Member
      • Sep 2008
      • 15658

      #3
      Originally posted by Toska View Post
      but its better then other option.
      And this is the sentiment that will ensure nothing changes.
      Risto the Great
      MACEDONIA:ANHEDONIA
      "Holding my breath for the revolution."

      Hey, I wrote a bestseller. Check it out: www.ren-shen.com

      Comment

      • Tomche Makedonche
        Senior Member
        • Oct 2011
        • 1123

        #4
        Originally posted by Risto the Great View Post
        And this is the sentiment that will ensure nothing changes.
        Absolutely true, but I think Toska was just trying to highlight that corrupt is not an alternative to corrupt, but as we all know, simply acknowledging or stating that does little to fix the problem
        “There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part, you can’t even passively take part, and you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus and you’ve got to make it stop, and you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at all” - Mario Savio

        Comment

        • vicsinad
          Senior Member
          • May 2011
          • 2337

          #5
          Originally posted by Toska View Post
          Gruevski and VMRO and shit but its better then other option.
          I'm with risto. Shit is shit. I can't believe Macedonians are content with discussing which pile is better than the next. Can you imagine going into a restaurant and the only options are smelly shit and liquid shit? You going to buy the shit they're selling or go home a make yourself your own damn food? Or better yet, burn down that shitty restaurant and open up you're own? Macedonians should stop the "well they're content with shit so it's okay if we are too." That's not how change happens. That's how shit happens.

          No one is perfect and we've all made our fair share of mistakes. But I refuse to accept that no one has enough integrity to be a leader. It's more of a matter of who has the courage. That seems rarer nowadays than integrity.

          Comment

          • Toska
            Member
            • Sep 2008
            • 137

            #6
            i beleive gruevski wasnt always the man he was, i beleive he was a good loyal patriotic man, but when you dealing with enemies trying to destroy your country, he went to any length to protect his people and got his hands dirty and now hes paying the price, even thou i still believe alot of the stuff is pushed by the west, but thats what the west want, us to hate gruevski and its working, they are winning.

            Comment

            • Risto the Great
              Senior Member
              • Sep 2008
              • 15658

              #7
              I believe Gruevski was a little boy who gained massive power, then proceeded to rape Macedonia and its people. In a typical peasant fashion, he sees no wrong with abusing his power.

              Was the West forcing him to make his "peeps" outrageously rich?
              Risto the Great
              MACEDONIA:ANHEDONIA
              "Holding my breath for the revolution."

              Hey, I wrote a bestseller. Check it out: www.ren-shen.com

              Comment

              • DraganOfStip
                Senior Member
                • Aug 2011
                • 1253

                #8
                Originally posted by Toska View Post
                and how is this any different to whats happening in any other country in the world, every country and every leader is corrupt, they may start off legit, but someone always finds dirt on them blackmails them and makes them bend the rules, its how politics works and its never going to stop because people are greedy by nature, Gruevski and VMRO and shit but its better then other option.
                You're generalizing.Politicians may be corrupt but in every normal country whenever the dirty laundry come afloat,they get what's coming.
                Not here.Do you see Branko Crvenkovski behind bars?Or Ljubco Georgievski?Or Grujo or Zajko?
                Originally posted by Toska View Post
                i beleive gruevski wasnt always the man he was, i beleive he was a good loyal patriotic man, but when you dealing with enemies trying to destroy your country, he went to any length to protect his people and got his hands dirty and now hes paying the price, even thou i still believe alot of the stuff is pushed by the west, but thats what the west want, us to hate gruevski and its working, they are winning.
                Now you're making it sound like he and his party are the victims here,and not his own people.
                This is a dictatorship, my man.Grujo, the party, and the state are one.
                The only reason that he's still in power is that the other option is even worse.As long as it stays this way,Macedonia will keep living in Orwell's "1984" with a 19th century mindset.
                I'm sorry to say this but I see no future for this country.
                Last edited by DraganOfStip; 02-27-2016, 07:41 AM.
                ”A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims... but accomplices”
                ― George Orwell

                Comment

                • Tomche Makedonche
                  Senior Member
                  • Oct 2011
                  • 1123

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Toska View Post
                  i beleive gruevski wasnt always the man he was, i beleive he was a good loyal patriotic man, but when you dealing with enemies trying to destroy your country, he went to any length to protect his people and got his hands dirty and now hes paying the price, even thou i still believe alot of the stuff is pushed by the west, but thats what the west want, us to hate gruevski and its working, they are winning.
                  The West?, regardless of any perceived positives people attribute to Gruevski, there are still very good reasons why the nature of his regime should be outright opposed, and quite frankly the suggestion that he is patriotic is just down right insulting.

                  I think you are allowing way too many concessions for Gruevski, sure, if I was that way inclined I could say that at the beginning Gruevski may have had a positive economic agenda for the Republic taking into account his initial tax reform policies, and I could also go on to suggest that the continued spasticated, incompetent and completely counterproductive actions of the opposition parties did way more harm than good with any legitimate aims he (or anyone to be honest) may have had to help try and inspire confidence with potential foreign investors, which as a consequence may have contributed to his actions in limiting the public voice of the opposition, but that still by no means accounts for the multiple levels of corruption and corruptive behaviour his current regime exhibits today.

                  The guy is smart, and is miles ahead of the game compared to any other current political leader RoM has to offer, but by now it should be obvious to anyone that he is someone who is primarily motivated by self interests and if he continues with his current path he will slowly be on his way to becoming the closest thing to a genuine dictator the Republic has ever had.
                  “There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part, you can’t even passively take part, and you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus and you’ve got to make it stop, and you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at all” - Mario Savio

                  Comment

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