What if Someone Declared Himself President…

… and everyone ignored him? This beautiful scenario is what the New York Times claims has happened in Madagascar:

[Antananarivo] Mayor Andry Rajoelina, who over the weekend claimed he was now running this island nation, had a disappointing first Monday in “power”: the ministries he ordered closed remained open; the civil servants he told to stay home came to work; even the children he allowed to skip school studied at their desks.

Of course, the matter is more complicated than that — an alleged populist mayor attempting to seize power and oust an allegedly corrupt regime, with the attendant fear and potential for violence. The piece also says the mayor will now try “legal” means to oust the government, given his attempt to declare himself president has failed. Bully.

Still, it is nice to see people ignoring a government. It is very nice to see.

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5:00 pm on February 2, 2009