Tis the Season for 'Santarchy'

I don't know why I found it strangely depressing to spot Santa Claus and two elves sitting in a booth at the Jack in the Box on 85th and Aurora. Santa has to eat...what's the big deal...?

And then I read this item....


Gang of boozing Santas rampages in New Zealand

By The Associated Press
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A group of 40 people dressed
in Santa Claus costumes, many of them drunk, rampaged
through New Zealand's largest city, robbing stores and
assaulting security guards, police said Sunday.
The rampage, dubbed "Santarchy" by local newspapers,
began early Saturday afternoon when the men, wearing
ill-fitting Santa costumes, threw beer bottles and
urinated on cars, said Auckland Central Police
spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty.
She said the men then rushed through a central city
park, overturning garbage containers, throwing bottles
at passing cars and spraying graffiti on buildings.
One man climbed the mooring line of a cruise ship.
Other Santas, objecting when the man was arrested,
attacked security staff members, Hegarty said. The
remaining Santas entered a downtown convenience store
and carried off beer and soft drinks.
Alex Dyer, a spokesman for the group, said Santarchy
was designed to protest the commercialization of
Christmas.
Three people were arrested and charged with
drunkenness and disorderly