In Orwell’s 1984 there is a "Ministry of Truth" that is responsible for propaganda. The main purpose of the Ministry is to falsify events so that they agree with Big Brother.

If Gov. Kathy Hochul says two plus two is five, you better believe it as she really is becoming Big Sister. When you combine the control over information with constant efforts at thought control and indoctrination, you result in the surveillance state known as New York.

Hochul announced on Tuesday that she is forming an Orwellian “Truth Ministry” for students in the New York Public School system where they will be trained to hunt down so-called “misinformation.”

This is what we shall call the conditioning of the “thought police.”

“Today, I’m directing the Director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to develop media literacy tools for K -12 in our public schools,” Hochul declared. “This will teach students and even teachers to help understand how to spot conspiracy theories and misinformation, disinformation, and online hate.”

Doublethink is another important concept in Orwell’s novel because it makes the citizens complicit in their oppression as truth ceases to have any meaning outside what the state dictates.

“Start talking about what we’re seeing out there. Give the teachers the tools they need to help these conversations in school. And by teaching younger New Yorkers about how to discern between digital fact and digital fiction, we can better inoculate them from hatred and the spread of it.”

If Big Sister makes a prediction that turns out to be wrong, which is inevitable when it comes to Hochul, this is where the employees of the Ministry will correct the record to make it “accurate.”

Hochul claims this is to correct “misinformation” but it would not be too far-fetched if one were to assume that this will be how New York intends to manufacture its own version of reality. How else will Big Sister control New Yorkers through misinformation, lies, and lack of information?

In 1984, children were enthusiastic members of the Thought Police. This could be why the state is going to the public school system for recruitment. It may be them who eventually alter history.

Well, at least that is what happened in 1984. This is real life. You do the math here. Is two plus two four or five? I don't know, ask the Ministry.

The initiative is a part of Hochul’s broader efforts in shaping public opinion in the empire state. Earlier, she announced that New York is focused on collecting data from social media as part of an effort to counter “hate speech” after antisemitic attacks.

“We’re very focused on the data we’re collecting from surveillance efforts – what’s being said on social media platforms. And we have launched an effort to be able to counter some of the negativity and reach out to people when we see hate speech being spoken about on online platforms,” Hochul said, adding that no one “should feel they have to hide any indications of what their religious beliefs are.”

People don’t immigrate here from all over the world just to have their speech or thoughts compelled. Controlling speech is the main way power can corrupt truth.

When the public sphere no longer allows there to be a battlefield of ideas, we know what that leads to. The state should not have to compel you to believe what is “truth.” That is not their job. And even if that was a real issue, which it is not, free speech is the only effective tool of persuasion. This is also one of the main justifications for Free Speech.