Blather And Blither

Poul Anderson, Operation Luna (New York, 1999).

Can you:

summarize the views of a politician or a clergyman that you disagree with;

avoid quoting his exact words;

make it perfectly clear that and why you disagree with him;

do this humorously?

It is called satire and Poul Anderson's Steve Matuchek does it effectively. According to Matuchek, Congressman Blather thinks that taxes:

"...ought to subsidize inefficient Wisconsin dairies, mismanaged New York banks, obsolete Texas oil refineries, foreign tobacco sales, and military bases in his district." (8, p. 86)

Imagine if someone with a poor grasp either of English or of politics thought that that was a direct quote from worthy citizen Blather!

The Reverend Blither decries:

"...our utter lack of compassion for panhandlers, drug dealers, muggers, burglars, prostitutes, pimps and, above all, his admirers." (p. 87)

Blither is even more inspiring than Blather!!

When I helped to catch a thief in Lancaster, I did wonder whether some of my political contacts might reproach me for favoring the petite bourgeoisie and persecuting a poor working class boy who only wanted to steal some money!!! But, fortunately, the incident passed without publicity except on this blog.