How does the government obtain and maintain power over the populous in Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451?

The government in Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 doesn't have to force the populous to be submissive to its desires. In fact, the government simply capitalizes on the weaknesses of the populace to take control and maintain its manipulative power. When people stopped reading, educating themselves, and caring about anything other than having fun, the government easily stepped in by creating a system where people could tattle on their neighbors for having books. Faber explains it as follows:

"Remember, the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord. You firemen provide a circus now and then at which buildings are set off and crowds gather for the pretty blaze, but it's a small sideshow indeed, and hardly necessary to keep things in line. So few want to be rebels any more" (87).

This passage proves that the firemen system of control is intended to be an intimidation tool for the government, which it is to an extent, but it isn't necessary. Those who dare to read books do it in secret and don't try to take over the government. However, the government also provides many distractions for its citizens in order to maintain power. Radio seashells, parlor walls, sleeping pills, and fast cars are a few examples of what people use to distract themselves from the manipulation going on in their society. Captain Beatty verifies the concept of distraction as a tool for manipulation as follows:

"More sports for everyone, group spirit, fun, and you don't have to think, eh? Organize and organize and super organize super-super sports. More cartoons in books. More pictures. The mind drinks less and less" (57).

The government wants the people to be distracted with sports and other mindless activities so they won't worry life's difficult issues or changing their society. Beatty explains the government's policy in other words:

"Cram them full of noncombustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy" (61).

Captain Beatty freely gives this information to Montag because people wouldn't care even if the truth about the government manipulating society got out. As long as the government keeps people in the dark about what matters in life, and people think they are happy, then nothing more needs to be done to maintain power and control.