'Star Wars' Raises Questions on U.S. Policy

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the themes presented in "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith" and their implications for U.S. policy and democracy. Participants explore the parallels between the film's narrative and contemporary political issues, particularly regarding democracy, power, and societal values.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants draw parallels between the film's depiction of a ruler consolidating power and President Bush's actions post-9/11, suggesting an anti-Bush sentiment in the film.
  • One participant argues that democracy in the U.S. is merely a facade, claiming it has been eroded over time and suggesting a need for a complete overhaul of the political system.
  • Another participant contends that while the U.S. is technically a democracy, the influence of money in politics undermines true democratic principles.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the effectiveness of violent protests as a means to achieve democratic change, suggesting that public apathy is a significant issue.
  • There is a discussion about the overlap between democracy and republicanism in the U.S., with differing opinions on the significance of this distinction.
  • One participant questions the notion that wealth directly translates to political power, citing examples of wealthy individuals who do not wield significant influence.
  • Another participant highlights the role of campaign contributions in politics, suggesting that financial backing is essential for gaining political power.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the state of democracy in the U.S., with some asserting it is fundamentally broken while others maintain that it still functions as a democracy. The discussion remains unresolved, with competing perspectives on the influence of money and the effectiveness of political engagement.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various cultural and political phenomena, including the impact of the Patriot Act and the role of special interest groups, but do not reach a consensus on these issues. The discussion reflects a variety of assumptions about democracy, power dynamics, and societal values.

  • #31
"All democracies turn into dictatorships - but not by coup. The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon or Adolf Hitler. Ultimately, the general population goes along with the idea... That's the issue that I've been exploring: How did the Republic turn into the Empire ... and how does a democracy become a dictatorship?

Star Wars fimmaker George Lucas, at Cannes film festival 2005
 
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  • #32
To call the Republic of Rome for a democracy is hardly historically correct..:wink:

Lucas does have a point, though:
What is the most likely manner in which a democracy might be turned into a dictatorship? (barring external invasion and so on)
Wouldn't such a change need to be anchored in, or endorsed by, the "people"?
 
  • #33
The history of how the Roman Republic got to the Julius Caesar point is very instructive. It was a century or longet in the happening and has something in it for everyone. Proto-socialism ended by assassination (the Gracchi), the good general who became the bad dictator (Marius), the hero who became the even worse dictator (Sulla) and so on and on. The Republic worked as long as it was just for the elite landowners, but as soon as the common folks (the plebs) were brought in it became violently unstable.
 
  • #34
Good post, SelfAdjoint; but it can hardly be said that the Gracchi's were pushing towards an egalitarian society. They weren't.
 
  • #35
Star Wars is about real wars.

The point of The last Star Wars movie and the current one has similar meanings. That is about launching phoney wars to extend the current power structor in place. Did George bush know about 9-11 before it took place. According to an articl in Penthouse that was published either this year or last year, at least the F.B.I. did know. For conflicting interests in personal finances, it choose not to do anything. There are other sources stating that Bush knew because The president of Russia tried to warn him in August of that same year. So the similarities of this being a phoney war like the clone wars is really there. However, the point is this, how much more power has our president received as compared to the man who would become emperior in the Star Wars film?
 

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