In our last class having read 1984, we debated whether or not Orwell best belonged with the modern left or right. The issue can be a confusing one because it seems that just about every group has at one point in time claimed Orwell as one of their own. Well, the right (the tea party specifically) has just claimed Orwell as one of their own. I attached the article below, but in brief, the author, representing the Naples, FL tea party suggests that Orwell’s claims in 1984 are being fulfilled with how the Obama administration uses statistics, such as unemployment where people dropping out of the labor force cuts the unemployment rate (this system has been in place for decades but only recently has significantly altered the actual headline rate). I think it silly to point to one singular member to either discredit or promote a movement (any large organization is bound to have at least one idiot and one genius), but while not necessarily indicative of the broader movement’s view, it’s certainly an interesting article and makes it seem quite possible Orwell would be criticizing the left’s use of language.
http://www.naplesnews.com/blogs/naples-tea-party/2011/dec/17/tea_____4___tea_____/