The political scene in Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game is reminiscent of the Cold War. The presence of the Warsaw Pact or the Russian empire and their conflict with America is ever-present throughout the story. Both sides were only able to come together against the threat of a bugger invasion, which is evident because they go to war after defeating the buggers. However, in order to defeat the buggers, the government seizes far too much power over the people.
First, there are population limits. A family can only have two children unless asking permission to have a third child. Obviously, overpopulation is probably a problem in their world but the government’s population restrictions are oppressive. Some parents wish to have more children but must ask the government first, which indicates the reach of the government’s interference in the personal lives of the citizenry. Furthermore, thirds are despised and face adversity for being a third child. In order to ensure that couples only have two children, the government provided free education for the first two children but taxes for later children increases. Then people such as Stilson and his minions continually harass Ender by calling him a third until he unknowingly murders him.
Second, the suppresion of religion is widespread on Earth. Even Americans must practice their faith surreptitiously. Ender’s father comes from a family of Polish Catholics and is the seventh of nine children, which he considers “criminal” (Card 22). His father was forced to invoke the Noncomplying Families Act to separate himself from his family, change his name and renounce Catholicism. In fact, “Poland is under international sanction because of it” (22). However, Ender’s father names him, Peter, and Valentine after saints and baptizes them. Ender’s mother is from a Utah family but never mentions it for fear of the Mormon connection. She, like her husband, has not entirely abandoned her faith. She objected to the baptisms because she did not want her children baptized as Catholics. Another example of repressed reliion is Ender’s friend, Alai. Alai is a Muslim who never reveals it until they part ways, saying, “Salaam” (170).
In addition, the government monitors the children to detect talent and send them to Battle School. The monitor allows them to observe their thoughts, something considered unconstitutional in America. This allows them to monitor adults such as Ender’s parents who still cling to their faith (23). As a result, the American government is capable of detecting noncomformists and rebels with this technology and responding in an authoritarian manner. This is remarkably similar to J. Edgar Hoover’s COINTELPRO, or counter intelligence program, which monitored organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference or the Black Panthers. Some of their methods were sending false messages using the names of leaders such as Elridge Cleaver and using the police for illegal arrests.
In spite of the spying, suppression of religion, and population restrictions, the mass deception of the people is perhaps the greatest crime. The populace is misinformed, similar to how the American people were misled during the early years of Bush’s War on Terror. Through propaganda and the atrocity that occurred on September 11, Americans were easily swayed by the Bush administration into supporting the war. The bugger wars are comparable to the War on Terror and the Vietnam War because during the Cold War the federal government has over-exaggerated the threat of communism and terrorism. Similarly, the buggers and humans seem to engage in war because they cannot communicate with each other. The buggers communicate via telepathy so it is reasonable that they have attempted to end the war with Earth but humans cannot receive the message. Therefore, humans believed that extinction of either themselves or the buggers was inevitable so they decided to launch the Third Invasion. However, this is not what the International Fleet tells the people. Moreover, Mazer Rackham lies to Ender in order to make him commit genocide at the Command School.
Additionally, the government purloins the innocence of youth. Instead of being a normal child with responsibilities such as school and chores in the house, Ender is forced into battles of self-defense that result in the death of Stilson and Bonzo. The government does not reveal this to him. The games at Battle School are meant to prepare him and the other students for war. Their classses are not important because they are not being educated. Another example is Bean, who struggles with mathematics but is not helped. These students, if one can accurately call them that, are trained to be self-reliant and independent. Hence, the government isolates Ender so he does not rely on adults for anything, which is the opposite of what normal children do. Although Graff is aware of the animosity between Ender and Bonzo, he does nothing to prevent the fight that could have saved Bonzo’s life, indicating the depths of hell he is willing to descend.
In conclusion, the governments of Earth are repressive and dictatorial in order to vanquish the buggers. Through this process, the I.F., Russians, and Americans deliberately deny the people their rights. Population restrictions are imposed and religion is censored by the state. This police state also monitors the children, and uses espionage and propaganda to control the intentionally misled masses. Youths are taught to despise the buggers and are robbed of their childhood. This police state is indisputable proof that freedom truly is a road seldom traveled by the multitude.
