I am OK with this scenario, except for the 1984 reference. IF this was full-on 1984 territory , people would NOT get angry. They wouldn't know anything different from what they had been trained to think. And you couldn't show any anger that you did have because if you did, others would denounce you. Getting out of 1984 is a LOT harder than getting into it.
Not until the system begins to decay and fail can it not hold its victims in thrall.
I am OK with this scenario, except for the 1984 reference. IF this was full-on 1984 territory , people would NOT get angry. They wouldn't know anything different from what they had been trained to think. And you couldn't show any anger that you did have because if you did, others would denounce you. Getting out of 1984 is a LOT harder than getting into it. Not until the system begins to decay and fail can it not hold its victims in thrall.