Coding Commanders Blog

1984 is the highly acclaimed novel by George Orwell that coined the phrase “Big Brother is Watching You”. Published in 1949, it tells the story of a dystopian future.


Tragedy plagues Oceania. They are in a continuous war with the other superstates and the people are controlled by the omniscient government. Big brother uses telescreens with cameras and microphones to surveil the people. The “thought police” are ready to arrest anyone who is guilty of “thought crimes”.

Let’s just think about that for a second. Big Brother watches people through TVs with cameras and microphones. What are you using to read this article? A computer? A smart phone? A device with a TV screen, a camera, and a microphone? Do you use anything owned by Google? Facebook? Amazon? Apple? Microsoft? I think we all are aware that our information is being captured by these companies. GPS allows them to keep track of our movements. When we take pictures, they use facial recognition to identify who we are with. And of course, they are all keeping track of what we type.

Now, with the popularity of smart houses on the rise, they will receive an even clearer picture of our specific daily routines. Google probably already knows a lot more about us than Big Brother knew in 1984.

So, we all know that companies like Google and Facebook capture and analyze our information to sell advertising. We are pretty much okay with that. After all, having better targeted ads is a small price to pay for technological advances and conveniences. Unfortunately that is not where the story ends...

In 2006 I finished my Masters and was ready to start my career! While in college I supported myself by working at South Florida bars. When I graduated I knew I would never work at a bar again! Until I accepted my first job (research sales). Now I worked far more hours, for far less pay. Making economic success even more difficult, my student loan payments started.

When I worked as a high school math teacher I had to use my credit card to pay for the gas it took to commute. When I brought it up at lunch time, several other teachers admitted to having the same problem. We were forced to take out a loan just to work!

Back then everyone said “at least we have jobs”. I saw the injustice first hand and knew it wasn’t always like that. My cohorts weren’t ready to stand up, but those who graduated in 2016 are…

I am going to have to get a bit into politics and economics. Before I do so, I want it to be known that I have no party affiliation, ever. I believe at looking at the facts and analyzing policies with my own analytical ability.

The young people of today understand that the very rich billionaire class control the government and its policies. Bernie Sanders had a very successful campaign calling for a political revolution. I do agree with Bernie. Since the mid to late 1970s our government has catered to the very rich at the expense of the common man.

I understand that there are many people reading my blog that may not like Bernie Sanders and that is okay. The point you do have to understand is that the young people do like Bernie Sanders and they do believe we need a political revolution. One day the older people die. The young people are literally our future.

Even if it turns out we don’t have a big enough chunk of the population to make it happen today, it is still going to happen. Eventually the young people (and their children who they raised) will become the population.

Also, I think most people understand that our government is corrupt. I think most us know that the richest Americans do have more political influence than the common man. So the rich billionaire class is the dominant group with political control and the people are going to demand greater equality.

What happens when a group who is being oppressed starts fighting for equality?
Let’s look at an example:

Jim Crow & Civil Rights

Jim Crow Laws racially segregated the American south and were used to oppress black people.

In 1952 Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger. This was a big deal back then. Afterward, she coordinated with other Civil Rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr, to fight for the rights of black Americans. Since they were forcibly removed from their homes and their families to be sold as slaves, black Americans have been victims of institutionalized oppression.

What happened when people started protesting against this overt oppression? Did the dominant group calmly discuss an appropriate resolution? In 1964, 12 years after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. So, what happened over that 12 year period?

The dominant group continually fought against those demanding equal rights. Protesters were arrested, injured and even killed. The dominant group does not like to lose power and will use the resources that they dominant to hold their position.

Here are examples of excessive force being used to fight against the civil rights movement:

✶ George W, Lee was a peaceful civil rights activist who was shot and killed for encourages blacks in the Mississippi Delta to vote. Today the Mississippi Delta remains the poorest part of the poorest state and home to most most black people. Many of the residents are descendants of slaves.

✶ Lamar Smith was a civil rights activist and war vetern who was also shot for encouraging southern blacks to vote.

✶ Here is a list of civil rights activists who were killed: Civil Rights Martyrs

I think most people also understand that companies like Walmart, Exxon and Pfizer are corrupt. But tech companies are cool, right?

For social issues, like gay rights and the decriminalization of pot, tech businessmen do seem to be a lot more progressive. However, when it comes to economics, tech companies operate just like any other corporation. They do what is best for corporate profits. How much money do you think tech giant CEOs make? Do you think they are on the side of the peasants or the nobility?

When the peasants rise, I believe the people who own all our information will be fighting on the opposing side. Whether they are directly related to the government, the ones paying the officials, or just grateful beneficiaries, the super rich are in favor of keeping the system rigged. We the people are being oppressed and they will not willingly hand us a bigger piece of the pie.

Even if I am wrong about my previous assumption, the information is out there and the government can access it. It can and will be used against us, when necessary, to prevent against a revolt.

Here are some examples of the government using our digital footprint against us:

✶ The government wants Dreamhost to share the IP addresses of Anti-Trump protestors.

✶ Microsoft and other organizations are sometimes required (by law) to hand over your data.

✶ Gilberto Valle was arrested for talking in a chat room about cannibalism.

✶ The authories regularly search and seize computers.

✶ The police can track you via GPS.

Here is a great article about your digital footprint being used against you:
Your Digital Trail, And How It Can Be Used Against You

The protagonist in 1984 is a man named Winston Smith. He worked at the “Ministry of Truth”, rewriting newspaper articles. By making propaganda and revising history, The Ministry of Truth makes sure all available media supports the party. How does that relate to our current society?