I'd like to preface this by stating that I am BY NO MEANS an authority on politics. But while listening to GL's ROTS commentary, I was struck by something he said about the fall of the Republic and how Palps came to power. GL said that throughout history, "most people haven't wanted anything to do with politics because they see politics as confused and muddled". Because of this, they look for a leader who will take over and "clean it all up".

What I think GL was trying to impart was a "warning" that by allowing someone else to clean up the mess, people relinquish their accountibility and control. Consequently, they can get into a dark situation if their leader is someone like Palps (maybe not someone quite so drastic!). Something that sums up this mentality very well is a scene from the movie The American President (please bear with me!). Michael Douglas (as the president) and Michael J. Fox talk about people wanting leadership and comparing that desire to a person dying of thirst in the desert, seeing a mirage, and, thinking that the sand (poor leadership) is water (competent leadership), eat the sand. M. Douglas then says that people eat the sand because they don't know the difference (between competent and poor leadership). I think that this demonstrates how intelligent, ethical people can be deceived by corrupt, persuasive politicians (like Palps) and then regret their choice of bestowing leadership upon such a person.

IMO, GL is defending democracy, by making a profound and timely statement that bestowing all-encompassing power to one person can be self-defeating. I'm so grateful to live in America, where we have choices and governmental checks and balances.

Thanks for reading this, comments and questions are welcome!