On this day, June 8, in 1949

George Orwell's novel '1984' was published, in which he depicts a totalitarian regime that maintains complete power over its citizens by controlling the media, rewriting history, and even patrolling people's thoughts. Orwell, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist who despised totalitarianism, wrote '1984' as a futuristic representation of the US and Britain. The book depicts various aspects of Stalin era Soviet Union, the United States, and Britain during WWII, including increased militarism and the use of propaganda to deceive citizens. In many ways 1984 is a prophetic warning; can anyone say patriot act.