Wow… so I heard this on the radio this article by Andrew Klavan about how Batman is really George W. Bush.
I’ve read through the article, and overall, there are some correct assertions that he’s made. However, his application I felt was fundamentally flawed.
What the author seemed to miss, is that Batman is in fact an incorruptible figure where as Bush is not. Batman knows what is right and what is wrong, but even more importantly, he is NOT a government official that has sworn an oath to protect not only the people of the United States, but also the virtues by which it stands, including the Constitution which at its foremost, is intended to protect the rights of the people against the government.
Andrew claims that the legislation that is being passed is somehow ‘temporary’ and that the violations of rights that those laws allow will be removed, much like the sonar system that Batman constructed. Except… Batman gave control of the system to another man, who also acknowledged the unethical nature of the device and stated that is should be destroyed. He even said that he’d never work at Wayne Enterprises (i.e. ever help Batman) as long as the device exists. And of course, shortly, Bush will be leaving office and pass on the legislation he helped passed, not remove it.
Here within we find a truth of part of the author’s point. Do we let a madman (Joker) run amok and destroy the city or do we suspend the people’s rights (albeit, they have no idea) to help bring him down? But here is where I think the author is fundamentally flawed in his analogy. Again, we are talking about a non-government agent acting outside the laws to bring in a terrorist, not about the government acting outside the laws to bring in a terrorist. I do agree there is a need for this type of activity in our world, but I do not believe that it should be our government.
Also, the author fails to point out the necessity for Batman to run. Batman must run for two reason: 1) is to ensure that Joker’s corruption of Dent does not destroy Gotham, and also 2) he understands that what he fights for is right, but that if everyone were to act as he, there would be complete anarchy. Batman himself talks down about the copycats (the others acting like Batman). He fully understands that Batman is a necessity ONLY when corruption is rampant in the streets and in the government. What the author forgets is that Batman is not only fighting against the criminals of Gotham, but also the system that has protected the criminals for so long.
Edit: One more thing… if Bush is really like Batman, is he going to let us chase him? :p
