Not meaning to dishearten anyone. My observation was that many people do not ask, nor do they really understand. They instead exist without looking carefully, at least until they can no longer ignore the injustice. "If it doesn't affect me it's just fine" enables incremental erosion of freedom and justice, and IMO you can not really have dignity without freedom and justice.

As for the math, 2+2=4 only in a particular number system (base 10 or any base > 5). We could shift our number base to base 4 and then 2+2 = 10 or to base 3 and then 2+2 = 11. The math defines only the rules which we apply to a basis to get consistent results. We can manipulate the basis to get a different answer than 4, but if we follow the rules then we will always get the same result: In base 4, 2+2 will always result in 10 because that is how we have defined the rules. What this has to do with Orwell's characters, I have no idea (the random firing of neurons in a troubled mind is the best explanation I have).

Overthinking? Well seldom am I accused of that ;-). But thanks!

yes, dignity is born of the freedom to say no. A freedom that was taken away from billions of people over the last few years. If we use Winston's definition (which is IMO a very good one), then we have the crux of the status quo: challenging The Party is no longer allowed. Do it in public and you may find yourself accused of insurrection and imprisoned for years without bail and without a trial by a jury of your peers. This is a profound thing, and it goes counter to every fundamental principle upon which our nation was founded. And it is defended by the loyal followers of The Party for no reason other than The Party has said it is just. There's your Oceania.

Thus, I conclude that Oceano was not a product of Orwell's imagination, but that in fact Orwell was a time traveler who had been to 2020-23. QED ;-).