The Threat of Technological Growth

In this way the government can easily take advantage of the citizens by making them believe in what they want them to. Therefore, Huxley suggests that the use of technology as a means to control society inflicts more damage to the lives of individuals. .
             Similarly, in Harrison Bergeron the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers uses technology as a tool and as a force to terrorize the lives of the citizens. Unlike, World State where babies are conditioned and predestined from birth, the citizens are oppressed and controlled with extreme force. With the use of government transmitters and media the citizens have no freedom because their movements are tracked: "Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would sent out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantages of their brains." (Vonnegut 629). The government broadcasts noise over the radios to interrupt the thoughts of intelligent people like George. In the same situation as the citizens of World State, there is a segregation between individuals based on their intelligence. For instance, George is seen as stronger than the average man so he must wear forty seven pounds of handicaps around his neck to weigh himself down. Much like most of the conditioned citizens in World State George cannot comprehend the tragedies of the abuse of technology because the law requires he wears the radio and handicaps twenty four hours a day. Furthermore, technology is used in the form of propaganda to warn people about the consequences they will face if they choose to rebel against the government. The Handicapper General controls the media by showing the citizens what she feels is appropriate for them to see. Hazel and George while watching TV are shown ballerinas dancing which is suddenly interrupted by the news bulletin, "It wasn't unclear at first as to what the bulletin was about" until the announcer starts with a speech saying , "Harrison Bergeron, age fourteen has escaped from jail, where he was held suspicion for plotting to overthrow the government.