Score: 8
"Very good, with some drawbacks"
date: February 11, 2006
I enjoyed this animation, and as a progressive who is firmly opposed to the Bush administration, I appreciate the passion behind the message; although I feel the message itself is a little flawed.
I don't feel that the ultimate goal of the "Neocons" (a misnomer, but as good a label as any) is an oil-centric dystopic totalitarian regime; though I'm sure there are many of their rank who would love to round us all up and have us incarcerated or shot for not believing exactly as they do. And I'm certain that Karl Rove is already drawing up plans for the giant robotic elephants (excellent imagery there, by the way!).
What they want, ultimately, is a cultural "sameness"--a unified Western groupthink that can be easily led and lied to. They desire an American brand of "Freedom" which can be applied worldwide that has nothing to do with real freedom at all--they want the "freedom" to be able to come into any country at all, spread their idea of "democracy" which may not apply culturally to the people they are forcing it on, and create ways for their corporate funders to spread throughout the world and make more money. Imagine aliens invading Earth--but they don't want to kill us all or eat us, they just want to set up Wal-Marts everywhere and funnel the money of the poor lower classes directly into their pockets. And they have no problems using religion, fear or military might to carry out their schemes. That is the Neoconservative platform, without the bells and whistles.
They claim they are guided by morality, but ultimately the only morality they follow is their own greed. And there's nothing democratic about forcing "democracy" at gunpoint. Yes, the world is certainly better off with Saddam Hussein in custody, and I highly disagree with the way that women are treated in many Muslim countries--but forcing democracy down the throats of the people whose country you invade is just going to make them want to reject it. The rise of Democracy is a painful process, but it must be organic in nature.
So while I don't feel that the Bush administration has the desire (or the ability) to set themselves up as a Big Brother-style fascist government in order to grind us all under their heel, I know in my heart they would be happier with more control and more power to do as they wished. We the people won't let them, and your animation serves as a powerful reminder that too much power in the hands of government can be a dangerous thing indeed.
I'd also like to address the other reviewers--particularly the ones who identified themselves as conservatives--who agreed with the central theme of this animation, that totalitarianism of any kind is the worst kind of government. It's good to know we have that much in common, and I thank you for your wisdom.