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Some talking heads pawn the phenomenon off as ‘American competitiveness’ – a sporting fever of sorts. In a way, they’re right. It resembles nothing so much as a "Survivor" episode but armed with pepper spray, tasers and even guns. Yet others see the mania as a result of the recession, but we didn’t lose our humanity in the ‘big depression.’ I can’t put my finger on the cause of the mania, but when competitive shopping becomes an Olympic sport – as it must, America will be number one again.