USA=Hell in a Hand Basket: It's All NASCAR's Fault!

[stopbush]

And then, it hit me!: our nation is falling apart because of NASCAR...or at least, the NASCAR example. Consider how a NASCAR event resembles our nation's current shitty state of affairs:

• The drivers go round and round in circles, going as fast as possible, wasting precious oil in the process. They're not getting anywhere, but that's no reason to not stand around and cheer the efforts.

• We say that we like the thrill of the race, but what we're really hoping for is a big crash. The bigger the pile up, the better. If a celebrity driver gets killed in the process, even more better(er)! It gives us a chance to participate in maudlin group grief...and to expect a TV special or two in 6-month's time, not to mention all the nifty commemerative merchandise that will be available at Wal*Mart in time for Xmas!

• We get to watch someone else risking their life for our entertainment while we sit on our fat asses and swill beer by the gallon.

• We leave the event feeling that some important *everyman* moment just took place when the truth is that the only people who gained anything were the usual big corporations and their well-compensated talent.

Flame away.

[LongTomH]

1. Actually.....

I think you hit the nail square on the head! Sad state of affairs!

[flygal]

2. No flame here

I don't agree completely and I'm no fan at all of nascar. I have four siblings in my family. Everyone of us except my one nascar-loving brother voted for Kerry. Not only did they vote for Kerry but they dispise * - and one brother is an Army officer as is my husband - well, former officer. I know it sounds elitest, but I think it's just a mentality of being popular around a redneck crowd.

[Ron Green]

3. One more point is this:

We participate in Celebrity Worship, in which we get to neglect our own personal development by adopting one of the NASCAR stars as our favorite "brand," establishing a commercial, emotional and spiritual tie with his image.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Sadly, you are correct

Especially the participatory aspect of modern American life. Used to be that if the US had troubles, everyone pitched in. Surely you've heard of the Victory Gardens and gas rationing during WWII. How come we're not rationing gas now? Most folks know that, in the past, a President would be strongly criticized if his children did not volunteer for the military. Can you imagine Barbara and Jenna doing that now?

[Cooley Hurd]

5. Hey!!! I love NASCAR!

Shit... lost another tooth while saying that.:evilgrin:

[vpigrad]

6. Great analogy!

It's the people so stupid that watch that crap that think repukes aren't murdering bastards intent on killing every single person in the world that isn't as dumb as themselves. They're also the people that own guns. They're too stupid understand that they're dangerous. I bet 90% of the idiots at a NASCAR event have one of those things. That is a scary fact.

[illflem]

7. I know several people who like NASCAR and voted Kerry

but my crowd is in their late 50s and older.
Personally watching grass grow is more exciting to me than NASCAR

[oasis]

8. A dumbed-down American society will endorse NASCAR as its national pastime

within the next decade.

[OhioBlue]

9. I'm a NASCAR fan and voted for Kerry

I also donated, registered voters and phone banked for Kerry. I see your point about the corporate sponsors and the wasting of oil - I thought about that before. I do love watching the races tho. I have been to a race in Charlotte and camped. The people that we meet are really nice. They are the same people that are being categorized by some on this post as the dumb, gun owning, ignorant rednecks. I will admit - most probably did vote for *, but a lot of people I work w/ did too and they are not NASCAR fans.

For the record - I don't like guns but my boyfriend hunts and I told him if we had guns in the house, I would compromise if they were locked up. He was pretty much behind * before the many conversations that we had about Iraq, the economy, taxes, the environment, etc. etc. He registered to vote for the first time this year and voted for Kerry. (He is also a big time NASCAR fan). And.... I will admit people do like the bumping, spinning out, occasional crash if their driver is not involved, but NONE that I know ever want to see any driver injured.

BTW - my guess is that there is a post on a right wing website right now categorizing the left w/ Hollywood and making some similar argument. (Probably about how amoral we supposedly are)

[Tansy_Gold]

10. NASCAR popularity is a media invention

During one of the major sports strikes/lockouts -- I don't remember which sport it was, football maybe, or perhaps baseball -- the media had to find something to fill the sportscasts with so they didn't lose their audience. NASCAR was an open field, and was already primed for commercial sponsorship.

the fact that many NASCAR drivers are "good ol' boys" gave the good ol' boys in the audience a presence in the media. I doubt that NASCAR visibility converted anyone, but it may have given some people of "that mindset" more interest in national affairs and thus more willingness to participate in the national debate on issues, or at least get off their butts and vote.