Waking up in 1984

Some mornings I wake up and I'm sure I'm in an alternate universe where George Orwell was completely right. Headlines this morning, side by side in the Seattle Times:

Medical Privacy Law Nets No Fines: Basically - HIPAA is not being enforced. So, federal support for our privacy rights, zero. Any American out there feel like thier rights are being enhanced? Phone records, internet records...and once we get ID chips, all of our movements, I'm sure. Feel like there is any transparency going the other way? Do you know more about your government these days?

Pentagon to Reject Geneva Standard for Detainee Care: With all these self-professed Christians at the helm, let's just throw out the golden rule. New Math - multiple wrongs make a right. The government no longer needs to do the right thing.

Maybe we should all go back and read "1984" and "Fahrenheit 451." Maybe it's not an alternate universe at all. Maybe it's just where we live.