Feed Me Seymour

Monty Pelerin / EconomicNoise.com

Warning about government and its power using numbers and logic can reach some people. The masses, however, are too busy with their Dancing With The Stars, American Idol, Survival and other TV trash. Ratiocination is not something they want and, frankly, our school system has made many unable to reason when any complexity is involved. Theirs is a visual world where effort to understand is not desired nor required. Things are simple and almost mindless, although there is a lot of neat eye candy or violence.

In thinking about this situation, I wondered whether there was a visual way to present the true nature of government. I began to think of analogies from movies that might convey the message. Unfortunately I am not much of a movie buff so have a limited knowledge base. I know that most readers of this site are much more knowledgeable than I in this regard and request you provide your ideas of better analogies than the one that follows. I will post those that are helpful.

In the meantime, my limited knowledge of film is my excuse for picking this particular one. The following clip is from Little Shop of Horrors. It includes the interplay between Seymour and his nurtured plant. The plant has gained strength and power and controls Seymour’s life. The relationship is similar to that of powerful government and its citizens. At some point the citizens become servants, forced to serve the needs of the State. Cyprus was a recent example. It was a “Feed Me, Seymour” moment.

Seymour is also a good representation of the naive voter. He could not see where allowing this plant to become big and powerful would eventually rule his life. Voters who believe that if you continue to grow government it will provide more goodies for you are sadly mistaken. Government has insatiable needs just like the plant. Once it gains control, it demands more than you can or are willing to supply. We are very close to the point represented by this scene in developed Western countries.

What movie clips do you think either provide an analogy for or reveal the true nature of government?

http://www.economicnoise.com/2013/04/03/feed-me-seymour/