Mayor Hair

One has to wonder if Mayor Stocks is going for a outdated Gordon Gecko, “Greed is good” look from the 80’s “Wall Street” movie? Or maybe the robotic Willard Romney is who he is trying to copy? That one is listed as Stock’s Facebook interests.
 
According to Salon, the GQ style writer O’Brian states,

“I think that in politics, you’re supposed to be real; you’re not supposed to be styled and groomed. And Mitt Romney sort of looks like he’s been groomed professionally. It’s like John Edwards’ $400 haircut; if you look narcissistic — if you look like you pay too much attention to your appearance — then I think that’s sort of supposed to be a bad thing."

"Are the slicked-back style’s present pop-culture associations primarily positive or negative. [ . . . ] historically will say that characters with slicked-back hair are the antagonists in films, whether they be villains, whether they be greedy, whether they be untrustworthy, whether they be killers, whether they be shysters — any of the above.”

In this regard, the mayor is really way too bulky to be doppelganger to Gecko or Romney.  This rogue gallery is more fitting for an ambitious politico; Sen. Joe McCarthy or Gov. George Wallace. 

"The phenomenon is pronounced enough to have earned a satirical citation in the Onion: 

"According to statistics released by the [National Organization of Men with Slicked-Back Hair], five out of every six characters with slicked-back hair are cast as the primary antagonist. Of this group, 29 percent are depicted as greedy and manipulative Wall Street sharks, 22 percent as cold, emotionless murderers, 19 percent as evil coaches or mentors, 12 percent as corrupt mafiosi, 8 percent as undead creatures who feast on human blood, and the remaining 10 percent fall into the general category of jerks/pricks/John Travolta."

On the Other Hand . . .

And on a continued shallow observation of physical presentation, the new City Manager, Gus Vina, sports the look of the Guy Fawkes mask.  This look conveys the polar opposite message of capitalist empire.

“A Guy Fawkes mask represents anarchy and the attempted overthrow of a government. It's also used on the internet and in protests to simply hide someone's true identity.”

Ah, a delicious contrast at city hall would be a hopeful sign of a power grab being challenged.  That is a plot line we might hope for in Encinitas.  Remember, that “Wall Street” and “V is for Vendetta” were works of fiction and entertainment.  Encinitas city government is anchored in a kind of sickening reality.  Tonight's display of incivility slathered in polite wasn't the least bit entertaining.  Even so, Jerome Stocks laughed a great deal.  (Caution, he isn't laughing with us all.  He's laughing at us . . . openly).  We can hope though for a valiant struggle.  At least the city manager has “US” in his name.