GWB / Darth Vader Comparisons
I know it's just a sci-fi movie, but I found this interesting (plus I was getting tired of the Hitler comparisons): http://www.dailynews.co.za/index.php...icleId=2522295
"Many appeared to be cheering its references suggesting a comparison between Darth Vader's evil Empire and US President George W Bush's administration.
Much of the dialogue revolves around the transformation of a democracy into a dictatorship, and a politician's use of a fabricated war to increase his hold on power.
At one point in the film, Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi who becomes Darth Vader, even warns: "You're either with me, or you're my enemy."
The phrase echoed Bush's ultimatum made in 2001, in which he said "Either you're with us or you're against us in the fight on terror".
Lucas told reporters that when he wrote the original Star Wars at the end of the Vietnam War, he wanted to explore the issue of how a democracy turns into a dictatorship.
"When I wrote it, Iraq (the US-led war) didn't exist . . . but the parallels of what we did in Vietnam and Iraq are unbelievable."
He acknowledged an uncomfortable feeling that the United States was in danger of losing its democratic ideals, like in the movie.
"I didn't think it was going to get this close. I hope this doesn't come true in our country."
Although he didn't mention Bush by name, Lucas took what sounded like another dig while explaining the transformation of the once-good Anakin Skywalker to the very bad Darth Vader.
"Most bad people think they're good people," he said."
Re: GWB / Darth Vader Comparisons
Star Wars aside, I think Bush was restating what JFK said: "The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis maintain their neutrality." [Reference: President JOHN F. KENNEDY, remarks in Bonn, West Germany, at the signing of a charter establishing the German Peace Corps, June 24, 1963.—Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963, p. 503.] I think JFK was mis-remembering part of Dante's Inferno.
Re: GWB / Darth Vader Comparisons
If GWB's economic proposals work out as well as Darth Vader's box office receipts ...
Re: GWB / Darth Vader Comparisons
Melonie...so far his economics have worked out GREAT for his close, ultra rich friends but screwed the rest of us with a sleepy economy, lower comparable incomes and growing deficits.
It's easy for a president (they all do it) to promise better times 10,20,30 years out...they won't be inpower to make it appen or be blamed for failure
Then there are the facts in DA's other thread about the practices of our "fiscal responsibility" President
Re: GWB / Darth Vader Comparisons
I'll be the first to admit that some of the time GWB spends like a Democrat (no partisan jab intended). However, if you look at the current economic situation in Western Europe, the US economy is anything but sleepy by comparison. The Western European economies also didn't have to deal with anywhere near as huge of a financial disruption post 9/11, are not bearing anywhere near as much of a financial burden to fight islamic terrorists, etc.
Also, deficits are essentially meaningless when the currency in question is the world's reserve currency and the gov't can print as much money as it wants. And just in case you haven't been following the financial news, 1st quarter tax receipts actually ran a surplus vs gov't spending.
I would never claim that GWB has been fiscally responsible (the senior's prescription drug program he instituted proved that point), but IMHO the US economy would have been much worse off under more traditional 'tax and spend' policies than it has been under GWB's tax cuts.
Re: GWB / Darth Vader Comparisons
"deficits are essentially meaningless when the currency in question is the world's reserve currency and the gov't can print as much money as it wants."
then why don't they print more money? Because BASIC ECONOMICS shows that as the SUPPLY of money increases, the VALUE of each dollar decreases...it's sort of described here
http://economics.about.com/cs/inflation/a/deflation.htm
as for deficits being meaningless...please refer to the "credit card congress" link I offfered earlier...deficits have GREAT meaning, especially as they outrun economic growth.
"the US economy would have been much worse off under more traditional 'tax and spend' policies than it has been under GWB's tax cuts"
SO tax and spend is worse than spend, cut, increase deficits and put the burden on the future? How would that be,
Re: GWB / Darth Vader Comparisons
Quote:
Originally Posted by discretedancer
...Because BASIC ECONOMICS shows that as the SUPPLY of money increases, the VALUE of each dollar decreases...
Is the reverse true? What I mean is, if the value of something is declining or stagnant relative to inflation, does that mean the supply is keeping up with the demand?