I've felt all along that the Zhodani were basically an oppressive
society. Scott's description strikes me as being essentially what
the propagandists used to *claim* the former USSR was like. Of
course the reality was quite different. Comparing them to the cur-
rent 'PC' movement strikes me as very apt, although not in manner
intended since I personally consider the 'PC' movement to be *very*
oppressive, despite their claims. I very much agree with Catie as to
her evaluation of the status of the average citizen. They are very
much subject to the whim of these , supposedly, inerrant individuals.
The fact that the Zhodani society finds the Tavrchedl's activities
to be "moral" is, IMO, simply put, quite relative. The only difference
I see between them & any other despotic government is that they've
"got it right". How do we know this? Well, just ask them! ;*)
Seriously though, I just don't see how this could work w/o resorting
to the usual police-state tactics. Especially when the question of
"converting" (ie: destroying the native culture of) newly acquired worlds
is considered. The presence of the these Thought
Police seems to me to confirm this. It's always nice to assume that
this society will conform to one's own ideas of what is good & just
but imagine what it would be like if it didn't? I know for sure that
*I* wouldn't want to live in such a society. I don't need "Big Brother"
looking over my shoulder, or into my mind!
Phil Pugliese
[email removed]