If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
Ron Swanson, ladies and gentlemen.
Ever since 30 Rock and The Office jumped the shark 3 years ago, the funniest show on television has been Parks and Recreation. The show's greatest character is, by far, Ron Swanson. Since he is the greatest character on the funniest show on television, he's almost certainly the best comedic character on TV at the moment.
Ron is the head of the Parks and Rec. department in Pawnee, Indiana and Amy Poehler is his deputy director. The show has various progressive veins running through it in the same ways the Office and (more obviously) 30 Rock do ... they are on NBC after all. The main exception to this progressive leaning is Ron's character. Ron is a libertarian. He's a stated libertarian that often rants against big government. He invests in gold, is a gun owner, hates the UN, mocks hippies at health food stores, believes in freedom of religion, laughs at Canada, refuses to hire an assistant because it saves the taxpayers' money, and, when he finally does hire people, he makes sure that they are inept at their job so as to not increase the power of government. On Ron's desk sits a sawed off shotgun so that whenever people come to ask him for more government assistance, they have to stare down the barrel.
Ron also has a certain air of masculinity about him. He loves meat, demands "all the bacon and eggs a restaurant has," doesn't spend money on clothes, has a mustache, hunts, works with wood, pulls his teeth out with pliers, shops at "food and stuff" - a store equidistant from his home and employment, and can drink whiskey like no one's business.
Ron's philosophy of life can be summed up in his pyramid of greatness.
A couple months back, Ricochet member Thirsty Artist and I had a beer at a small Midwestern brewery. He remarked that the producers of Parks and Rec. probably intended Ron to be a parody and to use that parody to mock people who believe in small government and liberty. When Ron turned out to be the best character on the show, it probably both shocked and appalled them because people love a character that they are supposed to be laughing at. The audience should be laughing at Ron because he's absurd, not because he's awesome, of course!
The producers of the show probably intended Ron to be a parody in the same way that the masculine characters of Mad Men were supposed to be a parody of masculinity. As it turns out though, people are attracted to some of the more masculine aspects of Mad Men and of Ron Swanson, despite the producers' attempts at making them seem ridiculous. Television audiences have been robbed of almost all masculinity in popular shows since the late 80's so seeing a masculine character is both nuanced and attractive.
The producers of Parks and Rec shouldn't have been surprised at Ron's success because no great character - be he in a novel, film, or show - is a relativist and therefore not a progressive. People may say that they love relativism, but when the chips are down, or even when they have to choose to devote their time to something, they run from relativists. To a relativist progressive, it doesn't matter if Darth Vader was really evil, he was just the product of a Tatooine culture - the product of a single parent home living in poverty in a moisture farming region. Good, evil, these are just judgements after all, not realities - so stop being so dang judgmental, man. Relativism makes for lousy storytelling and no good character is a relativist.
Ron Swanson shrugs the pathetic relativist view of reality. He stands for something and that appeals to people. He's brilliantly played by Nick Offerman, a fellow University of Illinois grad. He's delightful and just plain hilarious.
The funniest character on TV is a libertarian -- see, so take that Emily/Diane/everyone else -- small government lovers are funny.
Check out Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation some time. Try not to vomit when Amy Poehler's character comments on her love of Joe Biden.
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Comments:
Apr '12
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
One of the most endearing traits of Ron Swanson is that he's direct and unapologetic without being a horse's ass like Andy. "Fish is almost a vegetable" ... still LOL!
Jun '10
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
He also does some serious high-end woodworking in real life.
May '10
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
...and he's got an M18 Claymore mine on his desk. Best show on NBC and on Netflix, though I like April best - on the show and in real life.
Jan '11
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
I almost never watch network TV shows anymore but that pyramid skit was hilarious. I'll have to give it a try.
Apr '12
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
Ron Swanson, in the 2nd video, talks about the one government guy with the decision to nuke was hilarious. I liked the line about women would be brought to him when he desires them, very King of Siam, but women see that as a challenge to be the only one he desires.
Oct '10
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
You've almost made me sorry that we discontinued TV service. Maybe I'll find P & R on Hulu.
Jun '10
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
That's where we watch it due to the fact that we don't own a TV anymore....
Over the past 6 years, we've had only one revolving show that we watch consistently. It went from Lost to 30 Rock and now Parks and Rec. As each one Jumps the Shark, we move on to another. Parks and Rec (unlike Lost and 30 Rock) has only gotten better as it ages.
All of the Parks and Rec seasons are on Netflix as well.
Edited on June 24, 2012 at 4:36pmNov '11
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
Here is the full pyramid. It is worth the time to read.
Ron Swanson is an amazing character, and as just about the only libertarian on TV, he is considered a rock star in certain circles.
The thing about Ron is they play him straight and genuine. He is over the top sometimes, but it is still genuine, and he is the embodiment of masculinity, especially set against the other male characters on the show, and, while grumpy, he is a caring person who wants to help people and teach kids. (That pyramid is meant to teach children, when a little girl comes to him to do a paper on government he teaches her, he runs a group of scouts, he funds Andy - the adult child on the show- out of his own pocked when he wants to take a college course.) And the public has a yearning to see a character like that, hard and masculine, but caring.
And he's set up as a foil to Leslie who is an idealistic progressive. Her idealism gets thwarted by bureaucracy and reality, and only occasionally Ron. Since Ron has a realistic vision of the world, he doesn't need tothwarther.
Edited on June 24, 2012 at 2:34pmJun '10
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
In one episode, Ron gives the M18 Claymore to a 10 year old girl who comes to the Parks Department to write an essay for school on "why government matters." As he gives her the mine he tells her to "use this to protect your property." HAHA.
After talking to Ron about government for the day, the girl's essay on "why government matters" is just two words -- "it doesn't."
Greatest Libertarian moment on TV ever....
Jun '10
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
My favorite point of the Pyramid: "Property Rights: They exist, don't let them be taken away from you"
and
"Rage: One rage every three months is permitted. Try not to hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it"
Nov '11
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
That was my whole point in the Prager thread.
Mar '11
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
Reason enough for me to begin watching the show.
Mar '11
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
OK, smart guy. I started watching season 4 on Hulu, and got in trouble with the wife, who expects me to get as excited as she is about preparing for a baby shower she's throwing in 3 hours. Thanks a lot.
Jun '10
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
"If you don't believe in love, what's the point of living."
--Ron Swanson
....words to live by Illiniguy....
May '11
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
I had a liberal friend suggest I watch P&R on account of Ron being a libertarian. I assumed it would be a parody and never bothered to watch the show. Now, well, it's time to fire up Netflix!
Dec '10
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
I may have to reboot my computer into windows today since netflix doesn't run on linux.
Mar '11
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
Fantastic Gangee, as if I don't have enough time sinks as it is. But as soon as I saw the pyramid...
Aug '10
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
Samwise - I expect you're right about the producers intending Ron Swanson to be taken as a parody. Similarly, I think the character of Jay on "Modern Family" (played by Ed O'Neill) was originally intended to be something of a stereotype. But both characters are played by good actors, and the characters themselves are men who know what they believe. Turns out - audiences love those kinds of characters!
Apr '11
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
Ohhhh, man, do I love me some Ron Swanson.
Aug '10
Re: If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
If Small-Government Lovers Aren't Funny, What of Ron Swanson?
Do husbands count as small-government lovers?