Comments on: Corruption, Exploitation, and Decay: The Politics of Star Wars

By: Sith Mikaeus

Sith Mikaeus — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 05:29:39 +0000

Sorry Roger, you don’t speak for me or any of the thousands of fans out there. Please feel free to state your own opinions, but don’t try to speak for everyone.

By: Gareth

Gareth — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:56:23 +0000

Fantastic article thank you for writing it!

By: Jedi Are Better

Jedi Are Better — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 01:17:53 +0000

Good job!!!!
But why are you so critical of Padme? She is a great character.

By: Ben Otto

Ben Otto — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:02:04 +0000

Thank you, Starwars.com, for reposting this on the main page. Although originally written last November, the lessons mentioned are timeless ones, and I admire your putting it out there to help us see ourselves better.

By: Republic_Hope

Republic_Hope — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 12:49:35 +0000

Considering the American Constitution and Civil Rights with a few alterations, we might be able to provide a workable example for the Republic or New Republic. In addressing corruption, we already have constitutional term limits on the President (Did not the Chancellor exceed his?) and need them for the legislators to limit their accumulation of political power. Limitations on campaign financing might also assist in limiting the influence of corporate power on the legislature. We also need a balanced budget amendment and line-item veto that allows the President to restrict spending to a balanced budget, except for bond-financed wartime expenses and only for declarations of war by the legislature. If neither the two legislative bodies nor the elected President can agree on a balanced budget, then the Constitutional Monarch can call for new elections within 60 days, operating on a “default station-keeping” budget with the current government to operate within that time. To a lesser extent, rule changes within the legislative bodies can call for the expulsion of members based upon a clearly defined set of rules of good behavior and cooperative, civil governance. To a greater extent, both the President and Constitutional Monarch can be impeached for specific actions or behaviors and be replaced by popular election. The continuing presence and strength of state, county, and local (galactic regions, planets, provincial, local, etc. in Star Wars) governments with specific jurisdictions with very limited overlap would permit a dispersion of political power and check on the ability of any one individual or organization to gain excessive control to the harm of the citizens. Of course, you need enough wise and honest men and women with integrity, or it is merely a worthless piece of paper.

. . . and so,

“We need a system where the politicians sit down and discuss the problem, agree what’s in the best interests of all the people, and then do it.”
“That is exactly what we do. The trouble is that people don’t always agree. In fact, they hardly ever do.”
“Then they should be made to.”
“By whom? Who’s going to make them?”
– Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala

Anakin’s vision can be made a constructive reality.
I shall save my comments about the corruption of the Jedi in this era of the Republic until another time, but the corruption of the truth by them is partly to blame in Anakin’s wavering allegiance and in his fear for his loss of Padmé.

By: Republic_Hope

Republic_Hope — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 12:18:18 +0000

Mr. Keller, thank you for a very thoughtful and well-considered article on the topic of corruption and the fall of the Republic, but I may differ with you on some points.

Restricting my comments only to the movies and perhaps Clone Wars animated series, Naboo’s vulnerability was created by a philosophy of disarmament and a lack of collective security from assumptions borne by too many years of peace, even when there was not peace. Such a philosophy gave us World War II, and in the Republic gave the opportunity to a well-prepared aggressor for which the innocent would not have time to prepare and resist an assault.

Anakin’s statement that politicians should be made to agree may have worked out in a sinister fashion in Darth Sidious’s vision, but it need not have done so; however, given the quality and the state of the leadership during this era of the Republic, it properly could not have turned out otherwise. With enough good men and women and a very limited constitutional monarchical federal republican government with adherence to oaths to defend the Constitution, a stable republic might be able to exist. Let me give you some examples of how it might work. (in next reply)

By: Ismail Mainor

Ismail Mainor — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:14:29 +0000

Great article. I now have more appreciation for Attack of the Clones, which before I only liked because of the Geonosis scene. I like how you followed Palpatines rise to power. I would be interested to see a walkthrough of the original trilogy politics, even though they were not addressed as directly as in the prequel.

By: IliastheChiss66

IliastheChiss66 — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 01:32:23 +0000

I am very pleased for this article to come out. I myself have been planning to discuss the problems that people have with Episode I and politics is definitely one of them. So I am grateful to have read this.
Most Star Wars fans just don’t care about the politics that underline these movies. They find them to be too time consuming and just boring. I, however, find them to be intriguing since without politics we wouldn’t have the conflicts necessary in Star Wars. That is the thing that people miss about the prequel trilogy.

By: DashRendar72

DashRendar72 — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:41:31 +0000

Mr. Geller, masterful analysis. As Chancellor Palpatine might say,
“And you, young Geller; we shall watch your career with great interest.” MTFBWY…

By: SkyGuy99

SkyGuy99 — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:57:00 +0000

I believe politics was what the prequel trilogy was mostly about. The actions taken in the senate is what the Jedi responded to. Politics is a huge part of the prequel trilogy. I think most people don’t relize this.