Sunday, September 23, 2007

Plain Speaking

Yesterday, Scott Adams posted a pointed political commentary dripping with sarcasm on his Dilbert blog, eliciting hundreds of outraged responses, most confirming the truth of H.L. Mencken's observation that:
No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people.
Today, Adams admirably responds in clear and concise language to those who misunderstood his point. (I believe that Michael Reynolds of Sideways Mencken will appreciate all three of the commentaries mentioned above.) By the way, Mencken did have a kicker for his commentary that is often forgotten. Not wishing to be accused of quoting Mencken out of context, here is the whole text:
No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.
Which is why, my friends, we find ourselves reduced to reading and reacting to career cartoonists pointing out unpleasant truths while slumbering through the poll-driven pretentiously palliative platitudes of professional politicians.

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