P.J. O'Rourke

In Don’t Vote – It Just Encourages the Bastards, bestselling humorist P.J. O'Rourke, America's most subversive conservative, describes government as a devil's bargain between power, freedom, and responsibility, and goes on to hilariously skewer the politicians who have bargained with us to consolidate power, and the many mini-bargains and evasions that citizens have made with the consequences of their choices. O'Rourke begins with a party game that comes to us from late night giggle sessions in all-girls boarding schools: "Kill, F@#%, Marry." Pick three men – or, in O’Rourke's version, three political ideologies, i.e., Democrat, Republican, and Independents (a.k.a. Confused). Then choose which to terminate with extreme prejudice, which to go for a roll in the hay with, and which to settle down with permanently for a boring life in the suburbs. This astute tool of political analysis works on the parts of government as well as on the political thinking that led to those parts: Kill the Department of Education, screw Social Security, and marry the Armed Forces. The same for political policies: Screw the bailout, marry a balanced budget, and national healthcare kills you. Read O'Rourke on the pathetic nature of politics and laugh through your tears, or what the hell – just laugh. O'Rourke is the author of 13 books, including Parliament of Whores and Give War a Chance, both of which were #1 New York Times best sellers.

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At the Festival: Don't Vote It Just Encourages the Bastards