Ignorance is Growth

Theoreticians and practitioners of Oligarchical Collectivism will recall that Eastasia, with which Oceania has always been at war, is protected from annihilation thanks to the fecundity and industriousness of its inhabitants. Tragically, at least one of these advantages appears to be in danger of serious decline. South Korea's right-wing government is worried about running out of South Koreans; while Japan's right-wing government has similar concerns about the declining replacement rate for its own economically active human resources. Breeders are becoming more and more cautious, despite financial incentives and incessant moral blackmail; and all because of gross materialistic issues such as falling wages, rising costs and a certain lack of time-management skills on the part of working mothers. Since cutting living costs and raising wages are as far out of the question there as they are among the master race, it remains to be seen whether the authorities will have the courage to adopt such democratising measures as curbing rights and crumbling schools.