I picked up, for the first time since I was a young teenager, the original Star Wars novel. As I began to read the first few chapters, I was struck by the unbelievably prophetic nature of the following parts. Keep in mind that this was written nearly 35 years ago…back when a President being caught in a lie and dirty deeds warranted resigning in shame - before a president could openly admit to torture and gloat about it without fear of retribution (for example). As you read these choice quotes, just substitute in some modern day rethuglicans and you have a chillingly accurate portrayal of current politics.
Once, under the wise rule of the Senate and the protection of the Jedi Knights, the Republic throve and grew. But as often happens when wealth and power pass beyond the admirable and attain the awesome, then appear those evil ones who have greed to match.
So it was with the Republic at its height. Like the greatest of trees, able to withstand any external attack, the Republic rotted from within though the danger was not visible from outside.
Aided and abetted by restless, power-hungry individuals within the government, and the massive organs of commerce, the ambitious Senator Palpatine caused himself to be elected President of the Republic. He promised to reunite the disaffected among the people and to restore the remembered glory of the Republic.
Once secure in office he declared himself Emperor, shutting himself away from the populace. Soon he was controlled by the very assistants and boot-lickers he had appointed to high office, and the cries of the people for justice did not reach his ears.
Having exterminated through treachery and deception the Jedi Knights, guardians of justice in the galaxy, the Imperial governors and bureaucrats prepared to institute a reign of terror among the disheartened worlds of the galaxy. Many used the imperial forces and the name of the increasingly isolated Emperor to further their own personal ambitions.
Does anyone really have a hard time envisioning that happening if any of the current puppets of the repunants ever got into power?!
"Senatorial representation has not been formally abolished, you must understand," Tarkin explained. "It has merely been superseded for the-" he smiled a bit more- "duration of the emergency. Regional Governors will now have direct control and a free hand in administering their territories. This means that the Imperial presence can at last be brought to bear properly on the vacillating worlds of the Empire. From now on, fear will keep potentially traitorous local governments in line. Fear of the Imperial fleet-and fear of this battle station."
Holy crap, that sounds to me exactly like the plan for “less government” (let the states make their rules). And with a recently rally “To restore fear” (albeit satirical), it is clear to intelligent people that the plan is to make people so afraid of anyone who doesn’t fit their narrow vision of what is an American (Muslims, Mexicans, African-Americans, Liberals, non-Christians, etc).
I could be very off on all this, but the parallels struck me as I was reading today and I thought I’d share.
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