Can society survive under total control of something that doesn't even exist? In George Orwell's 1984, readers discover a dystopian society under totalitarian control. Big Brother controls every aspect of people's lives. Jobs, housing, even sex and marriage are controlled by the party. At the end of the novel, it is revealed that Big Brother is just an idea used to keep the citizens under control. Orwell paints a picture of a society destroyed by political lies, spying technologies and social segregation. Orwell's novel is a warning. A modern society could very well find itself in a situation similar to that of 1984. With political scandals, technological advancements, and a great division within social classes, the modern American finds itself on a path that can ruin the future. Society relies on political leaders to make the right choices and protect citizens. Political leaders often become corrupt and abuse their power. For example, people may place their trust in a president, but that trust ends up being shattered by something like the Watergate scandal. The Watergate scandal refers to several scandals involving President Nixon and committee members close to him between 1972 and 1974. Nixon secretly recorded conversations at the White House and stole documents. Early one morning in June 1972, several people were arrested in connection with Nixon. Although the president's actions did not come to light for two years, society's view of political leaders has changed. Americans were shocked when his actions were revealed: "Although Nixon was never prosecuted, the Watergate scandal forever changed American politics, causing many Americans to question their leadership and think differently more critical of the president... middle of paper... ...politicians, intrusive technological advances and social class drifts will lead to an intimidating future full of paranoia and corruption. Works Cited Beale, Lewis. “We are living in '1984' today.” CNN. Cable News Network, January 1, 1970. Web. April 01, 2014.Davis, Gary. “LG Smart TVs Leak Data Without Authorization.” McAfee LG Smart TVs leak data without permission comments. McAfee Incorporated, December 2, 2013. Web. April 1, 2014. “Forced disappearances. » Amnesty.org. Amnesty International, 2014. Web. April 01, 2014. History.com Staff. “Watergate Scandal.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. April 1, 2014.Lütticke, Marcus. "A Timeline of the NSA Surveillance Scandal." DW.DE. Deutsche Welle, October 31, 2013. Web. April 1, 2014. Orwell, George. 1984. Ed. Erich Fromm. New York: HarcourtTh, 1949. “Politics.” Boundless. Creative Commons Attribution, and Web. April 1. 2014.