FROM OUR INBOX
Re: Our Newest Readers Weigh In
Emirates. Meanwhile, flying in America today reminds me of the local flights I used to take in China 20 years ago. Or Central America. It’s like we’re becoming a third-world country. I think you are right. We have just enough people out there that feel they are entitled, but don’t want to work for their money. But also, people who feel desperate and ready to get violent because it’s the easiest thing to do. – Sherrie Maynes So what’s the problem? Damn the torpedoes of debt – forgive and let there be a new day in America. The result can’t be much worse than the consequences of carrying on with it. – Neal Brown Porter Stansberry comment: Oh, I wouldn’t bet on that. Governments never let a good crisis go to waste. Companies have been going for the lowest cost labor for decades now... [and] income gains have NOT kept up with productivity gains. Median income has been falling and wealth is being concentrated among a very few. Couple that with the rise in education costs (especially for-profit schools) and health care costs as two examples. With declining “real” median incomes, people cannot afford to purchase things (consume), and the American economy is now based on consumption. It is my impression that Corporate America is trying to replace declining wages with “easily” obtainable debt that can not be paid down. This debt allows low-income people to continue consuming.
Good to see you in rare form again. I’ve been reading you on and off since Harry , and can tell you’re having fun. Even a letter FROM the editor like in the old Lampoon days, but if I see another installment of the ongoing debate between radial and bias belted tires, I’m gone! Best wishes for success, looks like you’ve a decent writing crew on your side here. Kind regards. –Eric Lundquist P.J. O’Rourke comment: Eric, you win the reader loyalty award! (A free toke of medical marijuana at the retirement-home dispensary.) For those “Inbox” readers who weren’t in Baltimore from 1969-1972 (and stoned out of their gourds), Harry was an “underground newspaper” edited by Michael Carliner, Tom D’Antoni, myself, and others. It was one of the few underground newspapers to exhibit any sense of humor, with articles such “ Harry Interviews a Grown-Up.” (What’s with adults today and their strange “square” lifestyle?) The radial v. bias ply tires debate is a reference to my sometimes career as a car journalist for Car and Driver and Automobile where such matters were indeed discussed at great length. And, darn it, I still maintain that under certain circumstances – such as drag racing – bias ply tires are superior. Eric, here’s to another 48 years! (P.S. the writing – and design – crew at American Consequences is better than decent – they’re indecently good.)
16 | November 2017
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