Don't Vote
It Just Encourages the Bastards
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4.0 • 4 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
"[A] merciless but often humorous look at the shortcomings of American politics" by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Parliament of Whores (Booklist).
Don't Vote: It Just Encourages the Bastards is a brilliant, disturbing, hilarious, and sobering look at why politics and politicians are a necessary evil—but only just barely necessary. Read P. J. O'Rourke on the pathetic nature of our attempts to govern ourselves and laugh through your tears or—what the hell—just laugh.
"Whether readers agree with O'Rourke's politics or not, his style is funny, cutting, and insightful." —Booklist
"P. J. O'Rourke is like S. J. Perelman on acid." —Christopher Buckley
"The funniest writer in America." —The Wall Street Journal
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
O'Rourke (On the Wealth of Nations) continues his libertarian attack of current politics. The author, an early editor at National Lampoon, takes on weighty topics like the Bill of Rights, climate change, health care reform, government bailouts, and foreign policy. When he wants to be serious, he quotes from John Locke and Thomas Hobbes; when he wants to be humorous, he brings up Joe Biden and Harry Reid. Republicans get a free ride mostly; if the subject is accumulation of power, Nancy Pelosi tops Dick Cheney. O'Rourke admits he's not a deep thinker, which is why when it comes to stem-cell research, he simply accepts that the dogma of his Catholicism clashes with scientific claims. But without further investigation, he embraces former president Bush's opposition to the research and lambastes president Obama ("damn wrong") for overturning the ban. When all else fails, use a dictionary definition, and O'Rourke breaks out his Webster's more than once. He works hard to lard his arguments with humor, but like much partisan work, these essays are best appreciated by those who already believe.
