Harrison Bergeron-db

http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/harrison.html

http://kenmentor.com/papers/bergeron.htm

Questions to consider:

• How is the fictional society in Harrison Bergeron similar to our own?
• What are the similarities between social control mechanisms (formal  and informal) in Vonnegut’s fictional society and today’s world?
• What is the government trying to accomplish with these handicaps?
• How were those living in this society convinced that handicapping devices were a good idea?
• We have learned  about the impact of medications on the population of mental hospitals.  Were these individuals cured, or did they simply become more capable of  resolving the problems of everyday life?
• Similarly,  many people rely on a variety of anti-depressants and anxiety  medications to get through the day. Others self medicate in a variety of  ways. Do  these examples indicate problems with everyday living have become  unbearable for a larger number of people? Are these drugs “handicapping  devices?”
• Children and adults are medicated for ADHD. Is this just another version of Harrison Bergeron?
• What if Joe Rogan is right? Do laws against certain drugs exist solely to prevent mind expansion? 

Please  offer a 750+ word primary post in which you respond to the ideas raised  in this activity. Include appropriate citations (using APA style).  Additional research is expected, including citations to at least two scholarly articles found in the Library.