George Lucas to TIME: "All democracies turn into dictatorships..."

TIME Magazine via TheForce.net ^ | April 21, 2002

[Maelstrom]

Zimbabwe was a democracy.

The US no longer abides by it's limitations, and unless we somehow restore those restrictions, even the mighty US of A will eventually elect a Nero or a Hitler.

[aruanan]

George Lucas: What a political dip-sh-t.

[Darth Sidious]

A government must be strictly *LIMITED* to prevent it from becoming tyrannical, whether it's a democracy or a monarchy.

The answer to that is coming in Episode II.

And you'll probably want to shoot its messenger... if you haven't desired to do so already ;-)

[Darth Sidious]

Is that the depth of your commentary?

[breakem]

I'll add that the Roman republic was also not a democracy.

[dogbyte12]

George Lucas has been accused of being a fascist at heart. I think I might agree.

In Star Wars, you had the choice of Annakin or his son. Those are the two sides that all the peons had to go with. They had no choice. Oh well.

Annakin (Vader) murders 6 billion people, including obliterating planets, Yoda and Obi Wan flat out lie to Luke about who his dad is, then after committing atrocities that would make Hitler blush, Vader kills his boss, and becomes bathed in white light and is a good guy again. Excuse me?

So, if Hitler rescued his nephew from a mortar attack right before the end in 45 he would have been swell too?

So, then we get to Episode 1... We have a guy 10 times worse than Hitler portrayed as a child saying such deep dialogue as "Yippee!!!!!", while hanging around with Jar Jar Binks.

Yet, we are to be shocked when Howard the Duck, and Radio Land Murders don't do well at the box office for Lucas. Star Wars was a fluke. Lucas sucks.

[over3Owithabrain]

Lucas is a leftist, period. He himself says that in the very Time article you are referencing. My guess is his current problem with "democracy" has more to do with who is in the White House. Like most Hollywood liberals and leftists in general, they are all for the taking away of rights when it is THEIR guys in power. When they perceive a political opponent is in charge, they all of a sudden become champions of limited government.

[Hazzardgate]

Mr. Lucas is a revisionist.....

Word on the street is that he's re-editing the orginal trilogy with newly filmed footage so it will meld with Episodes 1-3. And note that the PHANTOM MENACE DVD is different from the one that played in movie theatres.

I never cared much for revisionists.

[over3Owithabrain]

Yes, Lucas is merely trying to make a buck, hence the gimmick of turning an evil Hitlerian type (Vader) into a sympathetic hero. Makes for a good plot twist and sequel fodder. Anyone who looks for real meaning and life lessons in the Lucas space fantasies are wasting their energies.

[Fabozz]

"Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader: 'Because he gets attached to things...He can't let go of his mother...his girlfriend...things.'... 'My [adopted] kids don't have a perfect life... they don't have a mother, and they just have to get over it.'"

Ah, yes, now I understand the deep moral vision that infuses Lucas' movies. People are "things," and the desire to acquire these "things" (by, say, adopting children into a motherless home) is part of man's base nature that the pure of heart rise above. The noblest emotion is thus indifference.

Star Wars was an outstanding remake of The Hidden Fortress. The further Lucas has gotten from Kurosawa's source material, the worse his movies have gotten. He's a brilliant cinematographer, a mediocre storyteller and, as shown in this interview, a moronic philospher. Looking to him for wisdom of the ages is ridiculous.

[Maelstrom]

Same as Republicans.

But not Libertarians.

[RLK]

"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.

-------------------------

This seems to be the historical tendency. It's happening here as the constitution is deconstructed.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

I agree- if this is the "mythology" that Lucas wants to hand down to our children, I think it would be wise to have them start learning those old Greek myths again.

I was unable to stay awake through the entire "Episode I", although I am assured that the second half is much better than the first. It would almost HAVE to be, wouldn't it?

The first STAR WARS movie was a re-telling of all of the serials that we used to see as kids (especially FLASH GORDON- I even recognized some of the episodes he based the movie on). As such, it was great- exciting for the kids, a little Jean Shepherd-like nostalgia for the parents.

The quality of story fell off dramatically, especially with "RETURN OF THE JEDI", even as the special effects got better by leaps and bounds.

[Maelstrom]

Firing for effect: *bang*

For all the criticism I see here though, I'll note that Lucas didn't draw a parallel between his doomed "Republic" of the Star Wars saga and the USA.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

	"All democracies turn into dictatorships--but not by coup.
...but not by coup....   In 1913 our Republic passed the following Amendment to the Constitution opening the door for a more "democratic" form of government directly following another amendment that same year giving the federal government "power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration. " Amendment XVII The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislatures. When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the Senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, that the legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct. This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution. Originally: Article I Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof. To repeat.... "When the leaders of a constitutional republic run the country by polling focus groups, it degrades into a democracy." Article IV Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence. Someone needs to tell our President to "get with the program".  We are GUARANTEED A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.  What's the matter are they afraid to say "Republican"?????
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[pocat]

I'm not too sure about Lucas' political leanings myself, but he is DEAD ON with this quote. I do, however, remember his statement about Clinton being "well-intentioned."

Anyway, I've always been a big Star Wars fan. I never noticed the political message of Star Wars until my later years, but it IS there - and whether he's a liberal or not - it's a reminder to all of us how easily governments can obtain absolute power. Once the whole SW saga is completed, I'm sure it will illustrate the decline from republic to empire well.

[Cultural Jihad]

And when you're greedy, you are on the path to the dark side because you fear that you're going to lose things.

Imagine John Lennon without possessions... It's easy if you try...

[RLK]

Someone needs to tell our President to "get with the program". We are GUARANTEED A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT. What's the matter are they afraid to say "Republican"?????

-----------------------

I suspect it is not within Bush's capacity to understand such things. Saying such things is out of the question both by capacity and temperament.

[Eala]

it's a reminder to all of us how easily governments can obtain absolute power

Especially when aided by new technologies.