You Only Get to place your Bet while the Cock-Owners Take it All
I was overseas during the most intense stage of the 2008 US Presidential Election; thankfully. However, I was not completely spared from this ludicrous ‘politics the American way’ even outside the country- think CNN international, think Wall Street international edition … basically think the inability to escape it all thanks to the globalization of the news, more like Americanization of the global news. The around the clock coverage of elections a la USA was booming in the background, more like foreground, of every single international (Western) hotel and resort, tourist hangout cafes and bars, and airport lounges. And I heard many comments from ‘outsiders’ on the ridiculously long, expensive, and show-like phony distraction called Presidential Election USA. Of course, deservedly, many of those comments were ‘snarly.’ Some were plain witty and truthfully hilarious-muckraking a la Brits.
I almost never disagreed with the outsiders’ assessment of and take on our painfully long, money-driven and for-show-scripted presidential election season. However, I slightly differed in one characterization:
Many referred to our uber costly and glitzy presidential race as ‘A Dog & Pony Show.’ I certainly saw, and still see, the appropriateness of this characterization of our presidential race: A Dog & Pony Show. But I had, and still have, my own characterization that applies equally well, and actually goes even deeper: A One-Man-Owned Cock Fight.
A Cock Fight is a contest in which gamecocks usually fitted with metal spurs are pitted against each other. Here is a bit more expanded description:
A cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters (cocks), held in a ring called a cockpit. Cockfighting is now illegal throughout all states in the United States, Brazil, Australia and most of Europe.
The combatants, referred to as gamecocks, are specially bred birds, conditioned for increased stamina and strength. The comb and wattle are cut off in order to meet show standards of the American Gamefowl Society and the Old English Game Club and to prevent freezing in colder climates. Cocks possess congenital aggression toward all males of the same species. Cocks are given the best of care until near the age of two years old. They are conditioned, much like professional athletes prior to events or shows. Wagers are often made on the outcome of the match. While not all fights are to the death, the cocks may endure significant physical trauma. In many other areas around the world, cockfighting is still practiced as a mainstream event; in some countries it is government controlled.
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There are variations and regionally based differentiations in cockfighting shows and betting-gambling, but the two main ones are based on one owner-two cocks or two-owners-two cocks.
I happen to view our presidential race as a one-owner-two cocks show. Of course, initially, during the primaries it all starts with several cocks-one owner, and after that it gets narrowed down until we have two cocks-still-standing and one-owner. To understand this a bit better you must look at the major backers of our presidential candidates; take the last round in 2008: Obama-Clinton-McCain. Take a look at the fund-ers, owners. What do you see? Military Industrial Complex mega players, Financial Industry mega players, Oil industry mega players …All spreading their bets between three cocks, and later on two. They train and groom their multiple cocks, write the show scripts for the PR-Marketers (mainstream media), let the cocks put on the show, and no matter which cock wins, they get to win.
So yes, we Americans love everything big: big cars, big houses, big food portions, and big-glitzy and ludicrously long presidential election races with way too many bells and whistles, which can appropriately be called ‘A Dog & Pony Show.’ When examined closer a better analogy seems to be a One-Man-Owned Cockfight.
*** A few readers have suggested that we cover the 2012 presidential election here @ Boiling Frogs Post. I personally would rather stay away from all that nonsense glitz. After all, the entire MSM is covering it 24 X 7, and almost all popular blogs-forums have committed their entire sites to it. However, I would like to hear from more of you.
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