George Orwell's 1984 projected the totalitarianism of Hitler and Stalin in a horrifying tale of the virtual extinction of human freedom. Was 1984 a flight of fantasy? A prediction? Or a warning of what could result from negligence by democratic nations?

Democracy gained at all levels after the 1940s, but has lost ground in the 21st century. Does this mean that eternal vigilance and military action can defeat authoritarianism? Or is democracy destined to fail because of its inherent weaknesses? Is Trumpism an aberration, or does it portend a coming era?

Political change is continual; human nature nearly constant. Elites employ mechanisms old and new to keep themselves in power. Demagogues still enthrall millions by promising an end to their fears and by encouraging and channeling their resentments and dreams.

Overpopulation and inequality generate anxieties at the expense of reason and democracy. Will the future be better or worse, and how may it affect our lives?

In USA 2084, two ways of life collide when an idealistic young woman from Vermont tries to right a wrong in the cynical world of Washington DC, At stake are her personal and professional integrity - and the future of American freedom.