Hence Godzone

"Ambition makes the same mistake concerning power, that avarice makes as to wealth. She begins by accumulating it as a means to happiness, and finishes by continuing to accumulate it as an end."     Charles Caleb Colton.                 In about ten years, Godzone (New Zealand) will be a different country.  Nestling idyllically in the South Pacific, bathed in sunshine and self satisfying moonbeams, the Free Republic of Political Ideology will be Heaven on Earth for the population.  Advanced technology will ensure the people are much better off than today.  Yeah right! Every inch of Godzone will be under constant satellite surveillance and every person, animal and object will have an identifying micro chip.  Sit on the loo more than twice a day and it will be recorded in a data base.  Travel from A-B and you will be watched.  Speed a little in your government permitted brand of auto and your bank account will be reduced by electronic funds transfer.  The money collected will be used to update the technology enabling further surveillance.  There will be no such thing as monthly bills for electricity and phones etc.  The money will be removed from your account in advance.  Drink booze or smoke more than the permitted amount and the authorities will ensure you enjoy "rehabilitation."  The justice system will based upon the theory that if you weren't guilty, you wouldn't be charged.  Thus, you're naturally guilty of plotting against the State. Children will be taught only what the State wants them to know.  Mainly how to nod and automatically agree with all bureaucratic edicts.  Independent thinking will be regarded as treasonable and the guilty parties jailed until they agree to let the State control their lives and thought.  The classic novels will be barred because they teach history and human behaviour. Individual health will be monitored and diet and exercise controlled by electronic impulse administered at 2:00 am every morning.  Life spans will be monitored and extinguished if hospitalisation is considered necessary.  No expense will be spared to enure you don't cost the State money in your older years.  Televison will consist of State-sponsored propaganda extolling how well the State looks after the freedom of its citizens.  No correspondence will be entered into without the State's permission and the appropriate fee paid in advance.  The cost of justice will be beyond the normal citizen. Cash money will not exist and all purchases will be electronically controlled by debit card based upon the standard income as certified by the State.  Poverty will be normal procedure as the State has to survive to the financial model dictated by the State.  Same sex marriage will be essential to reduce the population to an economically viable base.  Birth control will be mandatory and cloning arranged to ensure only babies of State permitted IQ are born. Children not meeting requirements will be removed from circulation.  Religion will be discouraged as the State will be the only God tolerated. Visitors from other countries will be injected against all known diseases.  If they refuse, they will be regarded as terrorists and locked up without being charged or legal representation.  It will be essential to change history on a regular basis to ensure State propaganda reflects current thinking.  Thus, Australia will be removed from the atlas as its convict background indicates that the inhabitants are of substandard quality.  The ozone layer over Antarctica will be held responsible for Australia's disappearance. People will not be allowed to leave Godzone for other climes because other races are regarded as inferior and Kiwis need to be protected from outside influences.  Maori will be the only politically correct language and English can only be spoken at home and not taught in schools. In ten years time, Godzone will be as the politicians want it to be.  But very little will have changed from today.