Congo

by: Juan Melli

Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 02:19:55 PM EDT

Remember Congo, the dog that was sentenced to death last year for attacking a landscaper? The single most important issue for New Jerseyans?

Corzine spokeswoman Lilo Stainton said the governor's office has received 10,000 telephone calls, e-mails, letters and faxes about Congo, more than any other issue since the governor took office. Corzine hasn't got involved, except to say that he's going to leave the matter to the courts.

They succeeded. Sure, the state was still unaffordable, thousands of children lacked health care and reports of corruption continued to elicit a collective shrug, but at least Congo was spared. Congratulations, New Jersey.

Congo the German shepherd attacked again -- this time a member of his owners' family.
As a result, the local couple who fought a successful high-profile campaign to spare their beloved Congo from a death sentence after he mauled a landscaper on their property last year had Congo and three of their other dogs euthanized Wednesday morning after the dogs attacked a relative visiting their home Tuesday, authorities said.
In the latest incident, Congo was one of four dogs that attacked 75-year-old Constance Ladd, the mother of one of the dogs' owners, Elizabeth James, police detective Sgt. Ernie Silagyi said Wednesday.
Ladd had puncture wounds and lacerations to the top of her head, chest and right forearm and injured her hip when she fell to the ground as the dogs pounced on her, Silagyi said.

This isn't really about Congo, nor is the purpose to point fingers or assign blame. There's nothing wrong with people lobbying their government for perceived justice. But how do we explain a state whose people will write letters and make phone calls for one dog, but ignore what are arguably much more pressing issues?

Juan Melli :: Congo

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Congo | 5 comments

Self Serve Gas (0.00 / 0)

That's my favorite. Talk about self-serve gas and people lose their minds here.
The fact that the superintendent in Keansburg can buy a small island with her retirement money isn't a concern, but god forbid, don't pump your own gas.
It's almost that scene in 'Airplane' where they run out of coffee.

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 13:28:56 PM CDT

It's all about death (0.00 / 0)

Anytime there's death involved (in this case, a dog sentenced to death), it sweeps all other issues off the table.

Lack of health care certainly affects more people and causes more deaths, but it's not like passing health care reform will save 1000 people from dying tomorrow.

Unfortunately, there is no understanding of long-term consequences in today's society.

-pb

by: princetonblue @ Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 13:46:18 PM CDT

Well, that's because... (0.00 / 0)

People, by and large, get their cognitive marching orders from TV and radio(It's easier than really thinking...). The media went wall-to-wall on this story, pumped it like a Freeper on his fourth hour of porn on his computer in his mother's basement and everyone fell in line.

Stuff like this is the ultimate in civic distractions. Keeps the proles away from learning about the important stuff, the stuff that is really going on, and then bothering their betters about it. When you are the media, when you have a status quo to protect and when you have turned the prime directive of journalism around to "Afflict the Afflicted, Comfort the Comfortable", a story like Congo is pure drivel gold.

Now, if you excuse me, I have to get back to writing my magnum opus on the epistomology and ontology of American Idol. ;-)

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Wed Jun 18, 2008 at 14:37:46 PM CDT