So is "The Hunger Games" a substainable dystopia?

This is an interesting question.  I've just started reading the trilogy so I'm sure their is more information to come, but from what I gather it is indeed a dystopia that could work.  Not all dystopias are so blessed, even those that I like.  Take "Idiocracy" a film I dearly love.  The theory behind the world is sound that dumb people out breed smart people so if you follow that trend you eventually reach a point where the dumb rule the earth.  The problem I have is that it can't work for long.  There has to be a point of maximum workable stupidity before some crisis kills off vast majority of the population.  Since, it is likely that the dumber members of a society would statistically die more readily than the smart ones, the end would result would be a world where the balance between smart and dumb is naturally reset

As I said I think that the dystopia of the Huger Games can pan out for quite a while.  There are several reasons I believe so.  First there is the historical consideration.  The government of the Hunger Games has already survived a revolution and that's daunting knowledge to those in the districts.  The fact that an entire district was completely destroyed does a lot to force the other districts to cooperate.  This was a tactic supposedly used by imperial China where they would burn a city to the ground for not paying taxes.  The next time a city refuses to pay high taxes the collector would say, "Do you know Chow Zhen?" and the city fathers would say, "Where is Chow Zhen?"  The collector would just say, "Exactly."

Taxes were paid.

The second thing to consider is that the center, wisely named the Capital, is in a highly defensible position geographically.  Being in the middle of the rockies, to reach it revolutionaries would either have to use well guarded roads or try to climb some of the highest mountains in North America.  Neither is a good prospect.

They also have a stranglehold on resources.  Even if a district tries to stop giving to the Capital they've already hoarded enough to survive any embargo of say coal than that district can handle the stopping of food supplies.  They control the districts through their bellies and that's a tough thing to beat.

They also have hoarded technology.  The districts are lucky to have electricity a couple of hours a day.  The capital has hover craft and access to advance genetic engineering.  They have the technology to take on all 13 (now 12) districts at once.

I think the really clever thing though is that the Capital is smart enough to allow some small insurrections.  There are draconian punishments for going into forbidden areas, having weapons, hunting, and the black market.  Yet all of these are allowed to some degree with even the local police buying some fresh meat from time to time.  This allows a bit of a safety valve, as desperate people need some hope of getting some extra food.  It also acts as a fairly safe way of identifying potential trouble makers.  On the darker side, if everyone is buying from the black market then everyone is a potential criminal and the police are free to arrest nearly at will a clean conscience.

So all in all, yes this scary dark future while not likely is one that could exist for many years.  One hopes it never arrives of course, but it is making for an interesting book to read so far.

Things You Need To Know #172

You will never see a cat in church.  They are nature's Atheist.  They are so merely because they all believe themselves to be God and have no need for another.  As a natural advantage no vampire can pet a cat.

This was something you needed to know.

Monster of the Day: Logon-sothoth

Source:  Dementia Location:  Transdimensional Internet Cafe
Threat Assessment:  6.  The ultimate troll Logon-sothoth can comment on all things on the internet instantaneously.  Can cause insanity with inhumanly inane comments. 
Limitations:  The sign of PWND can cause him to go get another pus latte.

Today's Secret Code:

"The difference between tool and weapon is only in intent."  Again:  "The difference between tool and weapon is only in intent."  Today's Colour is not here today being that it is in the future.  Today's Author is not here in that he's revisiting the past.  But every day is maho maho.  That is all, maho maho.

The Bogey Man Hears Everything You Say From Under Your Bed

He is too hungry though to really care
good night!

Almost more fun than Joffrey abuse....

Things You Need To Know #172

The bears of Cluster mountain have gotten a bad case of religion.  They worship and old lunchbox featuring yogi bear.  It will be only a matter of time before they figure out how to wear ties and steal picnic baskets.  This will not end well.

This is something you needed to know.