Philip K. Dick's Short Stories

The Chromium Fence and Paycheck all seemed to have a political theme. In the Chromium Fence the main character doesn't want to join one of the two political parties, because he doesn't agree with either of the values that they stand for. However, the individual has no power. The power is located in the political parties. Even if the political parties don't have anything good to offer the world the individual must join one in order to preserve his life. The main character discovers that the only way in which he can make a statement about his opinions is through dying. In Paycheck, the author seems to be making a statement about government and the economical powers. However, the situation is very similar to the one in the Chromium Fence. The individual does not matter and the two power forces are the ones who run the world. The main character has to join one of the forces in order to preserve his life. The overall theme of these two stories is that when the power units in the world stop thinking about the individual then nothing is important except what those power units want. The individual person is no longer of any concern only the ultimate goal is of any importance. The human life is disposable.