(no subject)

[randomness]

If you're wondering about the state of the republic, consider that this is a country where more people know or care about Paris Hilton's jail time than know or care about Scooter Libby's.

Comments

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

I can think of a couple of reasons for that that don't make me despair.

1.) Scooter isn't known for wandering around in a short skirt without underwear.

2.) Few people can draw up enough interest to care about a guy named after a muppet.

3.) Scooter's sex tape hasn't hit the market yet.

4.) I suspect most people realize realize that his verdict and sentencing are pretty much irrelevant. He's a low-level flunky doing someone else's time. That people don't care that Cheney and Rove are walking away scot-free is another matter.

[mmeubiquitous.livejournal.com]

*clears throat* Ok, I will now try to justify the mount of time I've spent breathlessly gawking at the celebrity sites over the Paris Hilton saga.

I think what we have with the Paris case is a visible and, more importantly, *straightforward* example of the various differences between the treatment of the hoi polloi vs the priviledged in America. It's something solid and understandable to hang a lot of the modern American fury on. I think there is the perception...sometimes right, sometimes wrong...that the rich just wave money at the problems we all struggle with and make them go away. It's galling, particularly when the wealth is, like Ms. Hilton's, unearned. So we enjoy seeing her get her comeuppance. It's the couch potato equivalent of, ala Adam Sandler on SNL, hanging your ass out the window of the car at the Rolls Royce that cuts you off and screaming "YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME?!?!?!?"

Ahem. That was too satisfying.

Anyway. As for Scooter Libby, heck, I know who he is and I know the basics of what went on, and I'm still confused and uncomfortable without being able to pinpoint why. I mean, why isn't the journalist who, you know, actually *published* Plame's name going up the river for it? For instance? And wasn't she outed before then anyway? And hadn't she left the CIA? It makes my brain hurt, and there's no clear focus for the fury. Hence, muuuuch much less popular attention.

That's my theory, anyway.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

A couple years ago I read a fantastic statistic. I don't recall the specific numbers, but went something like this:

percentage of americans who believe that aliens from outspace "definitely have" or "might have" walked among us in disguise: 17

percentage of americans who believe that they will get back "all" or "most of" the money they contribute to Social Security: 11


Thing is, I can't say space aliens "definitely have not" walked among us, I mean, who know, right? I don't believe they have, but sure, I guess I would say they "might have." And Social Security money? eh. who knows?

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Plausible.

I mean, straightforward and obvious versus convoluted and unclear, sure.