In totalitarianism, there can be no historical information which contradicts or puts into question the reigning political ideology. The state sets up unquestionable dogmas and it alters them from day to day. In 1984, for example, the Ministry of Plenty put out a bulletin that they were increasing the chocolate ration to 20 grams a week. And only yesterday, Winston reflected, it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to 20 gramsa week. Was it possible that the citizens could swallow that after only 24 hours? Yes, they swallowed it.