Puppet Politics

Richard Lander | December 28 2004

It never ceases to amaze me that a Hollywood actor like Arnold Schwarzenegger is taken seriously as a leader of people. It is a laughable parody of plain sense and reasoning. All of the evidence exposing Schwarzenegger as a Nazi degenerate is significant, but need not even be factored in to the equation to conclude that his political successes and aspirations are a joke.

Let’s step back and take an objective look at the issue with a little broader perspective. The man gained notoriety initially for success in bodybuilding. In order to become a successful bodybuilder one must have: a) a thorough grasp of the muscular system and how to sculpt it with specific workout techniques; b) a working understanding of how to use supplements and steroids to boost muscle building results; c) sufficient vanity to endure the hard work, tediousness, and pain of weight training, body waxing, tanning, etc., and d) a proficiency in posing on stage in a manner that best exhibits the results of all that hard work.

All of these are worthy enough traits unto themselves, but do they contribute to the makeup of a distinguished statesman? Did the traits of a bodybuilder include a deep understanding of history, or a track record of successful leadership of large organizations, or a significant endowment of raw intelligence?

Not even remotely.

Well, since Arnie’s bodybuilding prowess obviously doesn’t constitute a resume to get him the job as Governator of the 5th largest economy in the world, let’s take a look at his only other claim to notoriety: Hollywood acting. I would personally contend that his work barely qualifies as acting. His best performances seemed to be in roles as a machine. At any rate, ignoring my own personal tastes, a Hollywood actor must be: a) dedicated enough to theatrical excellence to endure the long hours and repeated takes needed to perfect scenes; b) self-conscious enough to maintain or manage their looks and image; c) possess sufficient salesmanship and self-confidence to sell themselves and their abilities to movie producers, and d) most of all they must be gifted in entertaining people by convincing them that they are something other than what they are.

Does this sound like the making of a statesman to you? Was economic expertise in there anywhere? How about evidence of a sound philosophical foundation? Anything about deep wisdom, prudence, or foresight? Any allusion to the subject of Civics? Any mention of honesty, morality, or strong integrity?
Nope, not at all.

Yet, so many endorse this individual as a leader of millions? Such a blatantly unqualified show-pony being vaulted to such a lofty position of leadership would not make any sense at all if were not for the recognition of the actual mechanisms at play in lifting the man to political prominence.

The corporate lords and banking criminals are the ones that interview applicants for powerful seats of public office. And they do not look to fill the position with a gifted statesman, but rather they seek to fill it with a convincing and distracting puppet. For that position, Arnie has abundant qualifications.

While these hidden rulers and corrupt influences loot our economy and enslave our minds, they need a captivating image to fill our TV screens with. They seem to have found the perfect man for the job. And the latest, most blatant deviation from coherent reasoning has been proposed with the mere suggestion that Arnold Schwarzenegger be a valid candidate for President of the United States.

The public is having its nose rubbed in the fact that the politicians running our public affairs are nothing more than actors playing entertaining and engaging roles. How much longer will the general populace acquiesce to the charade of puppet politics that is destroying our culture?