Doublethink: Alive and Well in Modern Politics

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In his book Nineteen Eighty-four, George Orwell introduced a new word to the English lanuguage: Doublethink. This is described as the ability to hold two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accept both of them. I've seen many examples lately where a group or body says one thing, and the government says the opposite. The media reports these differing views, but without delving further to ascertain which version is the truth; they simply let each side have its say. We are left to assume, therefore, that both versions are correct, but, of course, this is impossible. Here in the UK, junior doctors will go on strike next month in protest over the government's proposed changes to pay and conditions. One media outlet says this: Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has urged Junior Doctors to reject strike action over controversial changes to their pay and working hours, insisting that his hotly contested proposals will leave them better off. But another report says: Medics argue they face up to a 30 per cent pay cut as evenings and Saturdays will be paid at the standard rate rather than a higher, antisocial hours rate. So, if we are to believe what we read, junior doctors will be worse off after these changes are implemented, but they will also be better off. They can't both be right.