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The rules of The Purge explicitly protect high-ranking government officials to ensure the stability and continuity of the governing system that enables the event. In the film series, the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA), the totalitarian regime that created the Purge, designed these rules to maintain their power while controlling the population through violence and fear. By exempting officials from being targeted, the NFFA safeguards its leadership and guarantees that the Purge functions as a tool of societal control rather than a risk to their authority.
The New Founding Fathers and Their Control Over the Purge
The NFFA’s primary purpose for instituting the Purge is to maintain social order and reduce the population of marginalized groups, particularly the poor and vulnerable. This annual event is sold to the public as a way to cleanse society of its darker impulses by legalizing all crimes, including murder, for 12 hours. However, the underlying motive is far more insidious: the Purge acts as a form of population control, disproportionately targeting lower-income individuals who cannot afford protection.
To maintain this system, the NFFA ensures its leadership remains untouched by the chaos. If government officials were vulnerable during the Purge, the political structure could collapse, undermining the NFFA’s authoritarian control. By protecting themselves, the NFFA guarantees their ability to enforce the Purge year after year, keeping their grip on power intact.
The Symbolism of Government Immunity in the Purge
The exemption of government officials from the Purge also serves as a symbol of the stark divide between the ruling elite and the general population. This rule highlights the hypocrisy of the NFFA, as they promote the Purge as a form of equality and freedom while ensuring their own safety. It reinforces the idea that the Purge is not truly for the benefit of the people but rather a tool for the elite to exploit societal divisions.
This immunity creates a system where the wealthy and powerful are untouchable, while the vulnerable are left to fend for themselves. By protecting government officials, the NFFA not only safeguards their political infrastructure but also ensures that the Purge remains a tool for reinforcing the existing class hierarchy.
The Strategic Role of Government Protection
Protecting government officials also serves a strategic purpose during the Purge. Without this rule, dissenters or revolutionary groups could use the Purge as an opportunity to assassinate key figures, destabilizing the regime. By making government officials off-limits, the NFFA eliminates the risk of targeted attacks that could disrupt their control.
Additionally, this rule allows the government to focus its resources on overseeing and enforcing the Purge rather than defending itself. The NFFA uses the Purge to monitor population trends, eliminate perceived threats, and test societal limits—all of which require a stable leadership. The immunity rule ensures that the government can continue operating without interruption.
The Erosion of This Rule in Later Films
As the Purge series progresses, the exemption for government officials becomes a point of contention. In The Purge: Election Year, this rule is repealed as political tensions rise and factions within the government begin to challenge the NFFA’s dominance. This shift reflects the fragility of the NFFA’s control and highlights how the very system they created can turn against them. The removal of immunity for government officials marks a turning point in the series, demonstrating how the Purge’s chaotic nature eventually destabilizes even those who designed it.
The Dark Logic Behind Government Immunity
The protection of government officials in The Purge is a calculated move by the NFFA to maintain power and control. By exempting themselves from the violence, the ruling elite ensures the Purge serves its intended purpose: suppressing dissent, reinforcing societal hierarchies, and perpetuating their authoritarian rule. This rule underscores the fundamental hypocrisy of the Purge and reveals the true intent behind its creation—not to bring freedom or equality, but to cement the power of the few at the expense of the many.