‘The Giver’ Graphically Shows the Consequences of Big Government Domination

If you don’t know freedom, how can you want it?

In the classic young adult novel, “The Giver,” the government has gone to great lengths to hide the idea of liberty from the citizens of its pre-determined, utopian society.

Lois Lowry’s 1994 book, the movie version of which hits theaters Friday, depicts a world in which government has abolished freedom.

America isn’t comparable to the futuristic society of “The Giver.” But some progressive ideas – such as outlawing certain foods, products and behaviors —- are eerily similar to the worldview of the government in “The Giver.” A particularly poignant line in film is “When people have the freedom to choose, they choose wrong.”

>>> Q&A: Jeff Bridges, Taylor Swift, Government Overreach, and ‘The Giver’

As the Obama administration pushes against things like school choice and health care options and even restricts the lunches our children can eat, it’s not hard to imagine they actually believe government knows better than you what you need.

TRENDING ARTICLES

OPINION

Iran Is Losing This War, and the Global Balance of Power Is Shifting

Victor Davis Hanson

OPINION

The Iran War: Collapse, Chaos, and What Comes Next

Victor Davis Hanson

OPINION

From Carson to Clowns: How Trump Derangement Syndrome Destroyed Late Night

Victor Davis Hanson

While some of these policies don’t appear dramatic at first glance, they force Americans to give up small freedoms. And that’s where big change begins.

In the dystopian society described in “The Giver,” the government created peace and harmony by eliminating choice – along with love, joy, pain, ambition and freedom of all kinds. No one is hungry, poor or angry – just numb, compliant and passionless.

Laws are designed around population control, elimination of anything unpleasant and peace and order at any cost. Can you imagine a world where imperfect babies are killed at will without consequence? Hmm, sounds strikingly similar to what is already present policy in America today, where disabled children are often aborted.

So while most of “The Giver” isn’t something we expect to see in real life, there are clear parallels to draw and sometimes blatantly recognizable policies.

There is a reason books like “1984” and “Brave New World” were seen as much more than fictional stories. They were warnings of fairness, equality and the “common good” gone awry – and “The Giver” similarly warns.

The movie brings the reality of progressivism on steroids to life. If they’re smart, most people will come away recognizing that the chance to fail in freedom is far better than the requirement to succeed in tyranny.