Vote for Cheese

At its best politics is a dark art filled with deception and illusions.

I like to think of myself as moderately well informed and yet the full force of this truism struck with the force of a wrecking ball in a cystal shop as Madagascar wound its way towards an election. The language and cultural barrier made the ruckus swarms parading through town total indecipherable. The only explanation for the mini vans with loud speakers came to us as “propaganda.” Throughout the country the president’s smiling face greeted us on posters and tshirts complete with a clip board and red tie.

As events swirled around us we found the army making itself felt along every road with check points and inspections. Riot police sat casually outside the bank waiting with plastic riot shields and body armor. As our overloaded minivan passed through yet another checkpoint and rounded a corner we saw the crumbled remains of a bridge blown to pieces in the last election.

Then, before the votes had all been counted we learned that the president had won “with some irregularities.” The army disappeared and the country slumbered on. It was as if a huricane had passed without causing a ripple on the ocean’s surface.

Then, bringing my astounding ignorance into stark contrast my pizza arrived without the traditional cheese. In Madagascar elections cause shortages of dairy products. The president is a dairy tycon and when it is time for a campaign all his employees stop their normal employment and pursue the political goals of their boss. No cheese is produced.