The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.
The Name Does Kind Of Give It Away
“Transformers ‘Decepticon’ Car Not So Deceptive, Court Rules”–headline, BostonMagazine.com, Sept. 4
Never Mind That, How Did They Hold the Gun?
“Spitting Fish ‘Adjust for Distance’ When Shooting”–headline, BBC website, Sept. 4
You Don’t Have to Live Like a Refugee, and He Sure as Heck Doesn’t
Here’s an amusing exchange from an NPR interview with singer Tom Petty:
You said you don’t want it to be preachy; is that a line you’re pretty careful about not crossing?
I just tried to kind of explore this gap between the poor and people that get so wealthy that making more money really wouldn’t change an hour of the rest of their lives. And yet they’re obsessed with making more money, regardless of how that affects other people.
Maybe it’s a moral question of, “Do you want something so bad that you don’t need, even though it will hurt others?” ‘Cause we’re looking at a very different time in America right now. We’ve rubbed out the middle class, which was really the whole point of the thing for a long time–meaning America.
It’s interesting, because I wonder if you see yourself as part of that group of people who are on top? Who are securely in that 1 percent?
Yeah, I am. But I don’t do anything that hurts anyone. I come from a very humble background, but I guess I did live the American dream of getting into something I loved and working really hard at it, and there were financial rewards. I don’t think that’s ever been the guiding light of our band, but it’s nice.
In an intriguing synthesis of the two major strains of Marxism, he’s unwittingly joined a club that would have someone like him as a member–namely the Petty bourgeoisie.
(Note: the last excerpt is from the Aug. 5 BOTW archives) For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.”
