American Consequences - July 2020

FROM OUR INBOX

P.J. O’Rourke comment: Well, Randall, we tried hiding Buck’s candle under a bushel, but the basket caught fire! Re: Will American Companies Grow a Spine? There are not many left who remember it personally, but today’s atmosphere of fear about saying anything that can be taken as racist or insensitive to “woke” feelings is very much like the McCarthyism of the ‘50s. I don’t know how it will end, but I suspect that it will ultimately eat many of its own proponents. Sadly, it will do great damage to the nation before it meets its deserved end. – Gordon F. Buck Sexton comment: Gordon – you’re certainly not alone in suggesting the connection between the great woke-ism purge of 2020 and the era of McCarthyism. The current environment of extreme demands from a constantly shifting orthodoxy is also reminiscent of Mao’s revolution and its infamous “struggle sessions” or the denunciation lists handed over to the “Committee of Public Safety” in Revolutionary France that often led to the guillotine. One thing all of these historical events have in common: frenzied ideology and bad outcomes. Let’s hope our current national moment rapidly improves. Mr. Sexton, from my perspective, the largest, global corporations are behind all of the wokiness that is consuming every facet of life. They aren’t the ultimate controllers, but they exert tremendous control in the workplace and throughout society. A core

P.J. O’Rourke comment: Thanks, Chazz. The word you use to describe how American Consequences is written brings to mind one of my favorite songs, “Everybody Plays the Fool,” recorded by The Main Ingredient in 1972: Everybody plays the fool

There’s no exception to the rule It may be factual, may be cruel Everybody plays the fool

(Another fun fact: The lead singer for The Main Ingredient was Cuba Gooding Sr., father of actor Cuba Gooding Jr.) Thanks for your rib tickling email today. Have enjoyed your work since Parliament of Whores described our current political situation, which has somehow deteriorated without imploding. Enjoy your parallel cynicism with Hunter Thompson. – Patrick Q. P.J. O’Rourke comment: Thanks, Patrick. And you’re right about the “parallel cynicism.” Although our political views ran along different lines, Hunter and I were good friends. I’m always flattered by any comparison to him – not because of the “gonzo” stuff but because Hunter was, in fact, one of the most well-read people I’ve ever known. When he and I would settle in for an evening (or middle of the night) of drinks (or what have you), the talk wouldn’t be about weirdness or wildness but about Henry James and the Beat poets. Buck Sexton’s editorial is one of the best I have read in a long time. Why didn’t someone tell me sooner that he was on American Consequences? – Randall N.

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July 2020

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