Harrison Bergeron Government Regulation Quotes

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Imagine this: You wake up in a land of total utopia. You get served and given everything. However, the moment you have a thought that opposes the government, you get threatened as it would ruin the utopia. Over the years there have been many instances of governments and societies with different levels of regulation. Sometimes it is tyrannical and questioned by others. Other times there is very little government regulation and the people are very free. Because government regulation is needed for public safety, keeping people in check, and to let the people have freedom, a certain level of government regulation is needed. To begin, government regulation increases public safety. Clearly, the government being able to regulate more aspects of …show more content…

In Harrison Bergeron, a quote that represents this is,“And George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required to wear it at all times.”This quote shows an example of people’s natural intelligence being suppressed for equality is not something that should be happening outside of a dystopian society. It takes away people’s personal freedoms to the point where they cannot think clearly. Additionally, another quote that can show these dystopian qualities is, “They were burdened with sashweights and bags of birdshot, their faces masked and so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face, would feel like something the cat drug in.”- Harrison Burgeron. This piece of evidence is an example of how conforming to people’s feelings can ruin other things in life. Their idea of equality is to make sure all people are physically the same, even if it brings them all down. Equality and the feelings of others can affect the environment of a dystopia. Conformity can go too far for the sake of equality and it can create a bad society and corruption. A government which suppresses its people this much can cause its people to resent it can unravel quickly. This is shown in the quote,”I am Emperor!” cried Harrison. “Do you hear?I am the Emperor! Everybody must do as I say at once!”- Harrison Burgeron. Due to the lack of freedom in this society for the reason of equality, those who are seen as unequal could try to seize power. Despite already being a dystopian society in the story, people trying to change things could make things even worse. Given these points, it is clearly shown how if there is too much regulation for whatever purpose, it can create a dystopian-like