Statistics Never Lie

I came across an interesting article in New Scientist about the actual statistical biases apparent in the United States government. Obviously its not pointing out anything not known from political viewpoints, but now there's objective as well as subjective proof. Only what, three and a half years til something can be done about that again?

A friend also pointed this article from Yahoo News on parallels between Star Wars and the current U.S. government.

Cannes audiences made blunt comparisons between "Revenge of the Sith" — the story of Anakin Skywalker's fall to the dark side and the rise of an emperor through warmongering — to President Bush's war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq.

Followed by a comment by George Lucas himself:

In ancient Rome, "why did the senate after killing Caesar turn around and give the government to his nephew?" Lucas said. "Why did France after they got rid of the king and that whole system turn around and give it to Napoleon? It's the same thing with Germany and Hitler.

"You sort of see these recurring themes where a democracy turns itself into a dictatorship, and it always seems to happen kind of in the same way, with the same kinds of issues, and threats from the outside, needing more control. A democratic body, a senate, not being able to function properly because everybody's squabbling, there's corruption."

Squabbling and corruption in government? You don't say? Stay tuned for an impromptu Canadian Federal election.