Animals 020113

There is an old saying that a leopard can’t change its spots.  Given enough evolutionary time however, the leopard may very well lose its spots and even become a tabby cat.  Political animals on the other hand change their spots from day to day.

The evolutionary periods for political animals are from embarrassing statements to lost elections, then their spots disappear under quick, slick marketing analyst’s whitewash.  Of course as the media rains on menageries’ parades the whitewash fades and the same old spots show through.  Political consultants however are prepared with fresh buckets of whitewash to slap on as public concerns swing.  The spots don’t change under the whitewash, the animals just hope the public will forget spots they can’t see.

Political creatures hope to hide the stumbling, bungling, muddling and vicious, roaring demagoguery.  The beast is supposed to have evolved into a picture perfect cuddly little tabby, but the picture still has same teeth and claws intent on ripping the hearts and guts out of the polity.

People do change; teenage ideals do evolve into seniors’ experienced realities.  The beasts that roar believe they can deceive voters with a few quick purrs and an overnight declaration that they have changed their ways.

Unfortunately, to often, they get away with wearing their coats of whitewash.  Never forget that many despots have been democratically elected.  Stand by with fire hoses to wash off the whitewash and look for the same old spots.

The last U.S. campaign was of particular interest to international observers considering democratic regime changes.  They saw candidates evolving from one public speech to the next.  Integrity swung with the slightest breeze.  Xenophobia, discrimination even hatred was embraced and later spun or completely denied.  Billionaires bought and sold candidates and platforms.  Months after the election questions still remain, what did these candidates really really stand for?

The day after the election winners and losers were busy reinventing themselves for the next election.  The billionaires were already assessing the prospective field and pledging to place their bets on horses expected to pull their agenda plows to victory.

Foreign analysts evaluated the real corruption recently exposed.  Emerging states noted the hypocrisy of, “do as we say, not as we do” rejecting the U.S. democratic model.

The feeling is, if we are going to be corrupt, we will embrace our own corruption rather than import that of meddling foreigners.  Our corrupt politicians at least know who we are and their whitewash is from our own buckets.  They will embrace a leopard, spots and all, if it a real leopard that serves their interests.