Are the Politics in the Star Wars Prequels Really That Bad?

[Winter]

The politics aren't that bad, just not as properly explored as they could have been. Looking back, the Republic is already looking pretty doomed, due to things like mega-corporations such as the Trade Federation having blatant senate representation. That just shows how little people's rights are respected.

As well, showing how little the Republic senate respects parliamentary procedure, as any voice in the Senate can interrupt a motion on the floor, silencing those in peril. Queen Amidala can't even voice her grievances before she is silenced by those with real power, the rich and the wealthy elites. Palpatine may have purposely overturned the apple cart for his own personal ambitions, but the apples were already rotting if swift action wasn't taken to fix all this.

I see this now, after having studied Political Science, and I think it should have been explained better in film language, like Anakin asking Padme's bodyguard why aren't they letting her talk or something, so that it's more obvious to the audience, but it's definitely there to see.

And with shows like Game of Thrones viewers have a Much better understanding of Politics then they did 20 years ago... Oh my god The Phantom Menace is 20 years old.

Anyways, with GOT, B5 and hell even kid shows like Avatar, The Legend of Korra, Steven Universe and Adventure Time have all had an increase in the use of Politics in their storytelling and as I said at the start, some of that Politics being even more boring sounding then Trade Routes in TPM. True as TV shows they have more time to flesh out their ideas but honestly I think the Prequels do a pretty good job at exploring the ideas it presents.

Like you said the ideas are interesting and there to see but at the time audiences of 1999 just weren't didn't understand Politics in fiction like we do today. It helps that many lines are more relevant today then they were at the time. Padme's line "I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee!" has, I think, a lot more weight behind it then people give it credit for.

[Karha of Honor]

The politics aren't that bad, just not as properly explored as they could have been. Looking back, the Republic is already looking pretty doomed, due to things like mega-corporations such as the Trade Federation having blatant senate representation. That just shows how little people's rights are respected.

As well, showing how little the Republic senate respects parliamentary procedure, as any voice in the Senate can interrupt a motion on the floor, silencing those in peril. Queen Amidala can't even voice her grievances before she is silenced by those with real power, the rich and the wealthy elites. Palpatine may have purposely overturned the apple cart for his own personal ambitions, but the apples were already rotting if swift action wasn't taken to fix all this.

I see this now, after having studied Political Science, and I think it should have been explained better in film language, like Anakin asking Padme's bodyguard why aren't they letting her talk or something, so that it's more obvious to the audience, but it's definitely there to see.

Why do these facts mean that everything is inherently doomed and it will turn into a galactic dictatorship?

[FaxModem1]

The politics aren't that bad, just not as properly explored as they could have been. Looking back, the Republic is already looking pretty doomed, due to things like mega-corporations such as the Trade Federation having blatant senate representation. That just shows how little people's rights are respected.

As well, showing how little the Republic senate respects parliamentary procedure, as any voice in the Senate can interrupt a motion on the floor, silencing those in peril. Queen Amidala can't even voice her grievances before she is silenced by those with real power, the rich and the wealthy elites. Palpatine may have purposely overturned the apple cart for his own personal ambitions, but the apples were already rotting if swift action wasn't taken to fix all this.

I see this now, after having studied Political Science, and I think it should have been explained better in film language, like Anakin asking Padme's bodyguard why aren't they letting her talk or something, so that it's more obvious to the audience, but it's definitely there to see.

Why do these facts mean that everything is inherently doomed and it will turn into a galactic dictatorship?

Not doomed, but definitely headed toward an unhealthy outcome. If Rockefeller Industries doesn't need to lobby Congress, but rather has open representation in that body, then that means dollars means more than votes, even more openly than any corruption that we have today. This means that if thousands are killed making some sort of trinket or product, as long as it's cost effective, it's okay, and nothing will be done to stop it. Legislation for better conditions in factories is dead in the water, as are any hopes for labor rights in any labor disputes, as are citizens whose homes are destroyed because a resource is there and it's cheaper for that company to bulldoze than to compensate the village for.

IE, imagine Naboo times a thousand, wherein Republic citizens' lives are immaterial compared to the profits of the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, or any other giant company that wants to shove their weight around in the name of profit or material gain rather than respecting the rights of those dwelling within.

It's the recipe for an oligarchy, which is just a few steps away from dictatorship once one corporation dominates the others. And human rights wise, can be just as bad for the little guy, even if dictatorship doesn't happen.

[Wargriffin]

The politics aren't that bad, just not as properly explored as they could have been. Looking back, the Republic is already looking pretty doomed, due to things like mega-corporations such as the Trade Federation having blatant senate representation. That just shows how little people's rights are respected.

As well, showing how little the Republic senate respects parliamentary procedure, as any voice in the Senate can interrupt a motion on the floor, silencing those in peril. Queen Amidala can't even voice her grievances before she is silenced by those with real power, the rich and the wealthy elites. Palpatine may have purposely overturned the apple cart for his own personal ambitions, but the apples were already rotting if swift action wasn't taken to fix all this.

The hilarious implication is without the Sith around, The Jedi and Republic grew stagnant

Palpy just sped the process up, well that was the intent then BW just made it to where the Republic and the Jedi are ALWAYS this way which in restrospect undermines Palpy's accomplishment and the whole point of Bane's rule of Two did what the Sith order for Ages could never do with millions.

But real Talk

Amidala should have plenty of REAL hard evidence to back up Her claim,

IE the Word of the Fucking Chancellor's picked investigators, IE the Two Jedi that brought her there since the Jedi are suppose to be recognized as the Republics peacekeepers

The Ship recordings

The Droid Recordings

The fact that such things can be dismissed just by one set of senators backing up the other requesting a further investigation 'Cause apparently even the Supreme Chancellor already doing that doesn't count' Shows that the Republic is so bloated by bureaucracy that the Nemodians and I forget the other race aren't even hiding the fact its just a stalling tactic so the Blockade can leave.

[Yukaphile]

@Winter Dude, Star Trek was political... haven't you heard of it? It was political long before Lucas got the idea to make a prequel series, once it had grown the beard in 1990.

[FaxModem1]

The politics aren't that bad, just not as properly explored as they could have been. Looking back, the Republic is already looking pretty doomed, due to things like mega-corporations such as the Trade Federation having blatant senate representation. That just shows how little people's rights are respected.

As well, showing how little the Republic senate respects parliamentary procedure, as any voice in the Senate can interrupt a motion on the floor, silencing those in peril. Queen Amidala can't even voice her grievances before she is silenced by those with real power, the rich and the wealthy elites. Palpatine may have purposely overturned the apple cart for his own personal ambitions, but the apples were already rotting if swift action wasn't taken to fix all this.

The hilarious implication is without the Sith around, The Jedi and Republic grew stagnant

Palpy just sped the process up, well that was the intent then BW just made it to where the Republic and the Jedi are ALWAYS this way which in restrospect undermines Palpy's accomplishment and the whole point of Bane's rule of Two did what the Sith order for Ages could never do with millions.

But real Talk

Amidala should have plenty of REAL hard evidence to back up Her claim,

IE the Word of the Fucking Chancellor's picked investigators, IE the Two Jedi that brought her there since the Jedi are suppose to be recognized as the Republics peacekeepers

The Ship recordings

The Droid Recordings

The fact that such things can be dismissed just by one set of senators backing up the other requesting a further investigation 'Cause apparently even the Supreme Chancellor already doing that doesn't count' Shows that the Republic is so bloated by bureaucracy that the Nemodians and I forget the other race aren't even hiding the fact its just a stalling tactic so the Blockade can leave.

In the old Legends EU, there was some BS about how Jedi couldn't testify to the Senate or some other hogwash. Either way, the Senate is so corrupt that the Trade Federation can literally get away with murder, and Nute Gunray can talk or pay his way out of court over the next decade leading up to Attack of the Clones.

It's one of the reasons I'm a fan of KOTOR 2. Sure, Revan and the other Jedi won the day against Malak. But as G0-T0/Goto points out, it's made the Republic a mess, and it's teetering on the brink of collapse, only his actions have kept it from collapsing, and the Exile has to do a lot to make it stable again.


youtu.be/Z7qLBnsaENA

Essentially, the Jedi, by hook and by crook, have been keeping the Republic afloat for millenia, and without them, we see how close the galaxy is to plunging into darkness without them.

[Karha of Honor]

The politics aren't that bad, just not as properly explored as they could have been. Looking back, the Republic is already looking pretty doomed, due to things like mega-corporations such as the Trade Federation having blatant senate representation. That just shows how little people's rights are respected.

As well, showing how little the Republic senate respects parliamentary procedure, as any voice in the Senate can interrupt a motion on the floor, silencing those in peril. Queen Amidala can't even voice her grievances before she is silenced by those with real power, the rich and the wealthy elites. Palpatine may have purposely overturned the apple cart for his own personal ambitions, but the apples were already rotting if swift action wasn't taken to fix all this.

I see this now, after having studied Political Science, and I think it should have been explained better in film language, like Anakin asking Padme's bodyguard why aren't they letting her talk or something, so that it's more obvious to the audience, but it's definitely there to see.

Why do these facts mean that everything is inherently doomed and it will turn into a galactic dictatorship?

Not doomed, but definitely headed toward an unhealthy outcome. If Rockefeller Industries doesn't need to lobby Congress, but rather has open representation in that body, then that means dollars means more than votes, even more openly than any corruption that we have today. This means that if thousands are killed making some sort of trinket or product, as long as it's cost effective, it's okay, and nothing will be done to stop it. Legislation for better conditions in factories is dead in the water, as are any hopes for labor rights in any labor disputes, as are citizens whose homes are destroyed because a resource is there and it's cheaper for that company to bulldoze than to compensate the village for.

IE, imagine Naboo times a thousand, wherein Republic citizens' lives are immaterial compared to the profits of the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, or any other giant company that wants to shove their weight around in the name of profit or material gain rather than respecting the rights of those dwelling within.

It's the recipe for an oligarchy, which is just a few steps away from dictatorship once one corporation dominates the others. And human rights wise, can be just as bad for the little guy, even if dictatorship doesn't happen.

We have no idea how a galactic scale economy works or how labour disputes are handled. And in my eyes Disney Canon can go fuck itself. So i don't count that.

There are a fuckton of planets out there...

Oligarchy is a lot of steps away from a dictatorship. Kareem steps.

I cannot name one IRL oligarchy that existed long term and was as bad as a dictatorship.

[FaxModem1]

The politics aren't that bad, just not as properly explored as they could have been. Looking back, the Republic is already looking pretty doomed, due to things like mega-corporations such as the Trade Federation having blatant senate representation. That just shows how little people's rights are respected.

As well, showing how little the Republic senate respects parliamentary procedure, as any voice in the Senate can interrupt a motion on the floor, silencing those in peril. Queen Amidala can't even voice her grievances before she is silenced by those with real power, the rich and the wealthy elites. Palpatine may have purposely overturned the apple cart for his own personal ambitions, but the apples were already rotting if swift action wasn't taken to fix all this.

I see this now, after having studied Political Science, and I think it should have been explained better in film language, like Anakin asking Padme's bodyguard why aren't they letting her talk or something, so that it's more obvious to the audience, but it's definitely there to see.

Why do these facts mean that everything is inherently doomed and it will turn into a galactic dictatorship?

Not doomed, but definitely headed toward an unhealthy outcome. If Rockefeller Industries doesn't need to lobby Congress, but rather has open representation in that body, then that means dollars means more than votes, even more openly than any corruption that we have today. This means that if thousands are killed making some sort of trinket or product, as long as it's cost effective, it's okay, and nothing will be done to stop it. Legislation for better conditions in factories is dead in the water, as are any hopes for labor rights in any labor disputes, as are citizens whose homes are destroyed because a resource is there and it's cheaper for that company to bulldoze than to compensate the village for.

IE, imagine Naboo times a thousand, wherein Republic citizens' lives are immaterial compared to the profits of the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, or any other giant company that wants to shove their weight around in the name of profit or material gain rather than respecting the rights of those dwelling within.

It's the recipe for an oligarchy, which is just a few steps away from dictatorship once one corporation dominates the others. And human rights wise, can be just as bad for the little guy, even if dictatorship doesn't happen.

We have no idea how a galactic scale economy works or how labour disputes are handled. And in my eyes Disney Canon can go fuck itself. So i don't count that.

There are a fuckton of planets out there...

Oligarchy is a lot of steps away from a dictatorship. Kareem steps.

I cannot name one IRL oligarchy that existed long term and was as bad as a dictatorship.

Think any mining town from the Gilded Age, with Pinkertons making and enforcing the law, people being unable to leave, not paid in money but in scrips, and forced to work long hours in unsafe conditions to improve profits. I'm talking historical examples from our own history. And, as we see from Solo, Clone Wars, EUs both old and new, slavery for profit is a constant presence in the galaxy. We see wookies enslaved, humans enslaved, etc.

And as The Last Jedi establishes, under the New Republic, the rich and powerful gamble away and party while children work as slaves on Canto Bight. So yeah, things are still shit, even if a dark wizard isn't ruling the galaxy.

[Karha of Honor]

Think any mining town from the Gilded Age, with Pinkertons making and enforcing the law, people being unable to leave, not paid in money but in scrips, and forced to work long hours in unsafe conditions to improve profits. I'm talking historical examples from our own history. And, as we see from Solo, Clone Wars, EUs both old and new, slavery for profit is a constant presence in the galaxy. We see wookies enslaved, humans enslaved, etc.

And as The Last Jedi establishes, under the New Republic, the rich and powerful gamble away and party while children work as slaves on Canto Bight. So yeah, things are still shit, even if a dark wizard isn't ruling the galaxy.

Just as bad was the statement you said you can back up. Not qoute unqoute still shit.

[FaxModem1]

Think any mining town from the Gilded Age, with Pinkertons making and enforcing the law, people being unable to leave, not paid in money but in scrips, and forced to work long hours in unsafe conditions to improve profits. I'm talking historical examples from our own history. And, as we see from Solo, Clone Wars, EUs both old and new, slavery for profit is a constant presence in the galaxy. We see wookies enslaved, humans enslaved, etc.

And as The Last Jedi establishes, under the New Republic, the rich and powerful gamble away and party while children work as slaves on Canto Bight. So yeah, things are still shit, even if a dark wizard isn't ruling the galaxy.

Just as bad was the statement you said you can back up. Not qoute unqoute still shit.

So, how good was Rey's life wherein she had to rely on her handing in enough salvage for a quarter portion? Unkar Plutt was the king of that planet for the people handing in salvage. And that's under the protection of the New Republic.