May 12, 2008

Undeliverable Commencement Address

P.J. O'Rourke would be thrown out of pretty much any university for delivering this little bit of truth to graduating college students -- who ought not to need to be told to go out and make some money, because they're already hip-deep in student loans. Money quote:
...the problem isn't politicians -- it's politics. Politics won't allow for the truth. And we can't blame the politicians for that. Imagine what even a little truth would sound like on today's campaign trail: "No, I can't fix public education. The problem isn't the teachers unions or a lack of funding for salaries, vouchers or more computer equipment The problem is your kids!"

Ah, the truth. Confronting it is so often a "blue pill moment." But really, is there any choice?

P.J. O'Rourke may never again write anything as funny as Parliament of Whores -- but to phrase that like a complaint is kind of like saying Michelangelo was all washed up after he did David. Edison's best work with the light bulb but that doesn't mean the rest of his stuff was crap.

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