Cronyism. As If It's Something New.

The Associated Press has been running the story, 'Trinidad's PM to Intervene in Ticket Sales', and I've been considering just ignoring it, but... it's just funny to me on so many levels:

...PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad -- Trinidad's prime minister said Thursday his government will intervene in the sale of World Cup tickets amid allegations of cronyism and price gouging against a leading soccer official...

Cronyism. That isn't a mortal sin here, even if Jack Warner is guilty... it's not even really a crime, unless he's got the wrong cronys. After all, the Honourable Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, has a strong case against him for Nepotism as well as cases of Cronyism as well. Not that anyone else in politics is sacred in this - it's just that the AP article mentions the Honourable Prime Minister. Isn't Hazel Manning, Minister of Education, the wife of the Prime Minister - appointed right after he won the first election?

Err.

Cronyism and Nepotism happen here all the time, right or wrong. And right or wrong is usually based on which dominant band of Cronys are running things, with a side order of Nepots. Supersized, if you will. Let's be frank. What, actually, is a political party? It's legal cronyism.

..."The government has to respond to all of the calls we've been having from the national community, people who have supported football from the inception to now who wish to go to Germany and are prepared to make their own arrangements," Manning said...

This is all very, very surreal now because whenever there's a problem, the Prime Minister's *name* keeps popping up. Crime? He's there, talking about the nefarious 'Mr. Big'. He's Christmas shopping in Bethleham for things to fight people who are 'naughty'. He's here, he's there, he's everywhere. Now, if we assume that he's a good person (and there are many who would question that assumption) - then why is it that he's doing all of this work? Doesn't he know how to delegate? Or doesn't he trust his own party?

And by the way, what is a geologist doing as Minister of Finance? Guess who! Yup, The Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning. A.k.a.: SuperManning.

Maybe the problem is that he hasn't had solid opposition to allow him to anchor and grow the country, I don't know. I'm not in politics, just a casual observer. And as a casual observer, if this fellow spent less time bouncing around, he might get some things fixed.

I imagine it's quite overwhelming, especially since I am beginning to associate his name with all of these problems that aren't being solved. But he can solve cronyism.... huh? Isn't there some other minister who could look into the whole Jack Warner affair?

Weird. Just... weird. Ahh, well, Carnival is coming along - the opiate of the Trinidad masses... And I'm seeing signs around San Fernando with the writing, 'He Lie, He Dam Lie'. Who? I asked someone if they were talking about Basdeo Panday or Patrick Manning. They said it was probably a fete for Carnival. Feting to Developed Nation status, probably. Nothing wrong with Carnival, nothing wrong with the fetes... except that they seem like an unhealthy form of escapism.

Bah. Have a drink. 'Same khaki pants'. Yeah. And don't get me started on the Opposition. If I run into a full political commentary, I'd die of hysterics.