Papers today either (a) avoid controversy in the mistaken belief that their readers don’t like to be upset or (b) invent controversy where there is none purely to prop up their publisher’s socio-political economic agenda. Even so what made Mencken great was that while he was not afraid to be controversial he had the verbal skills to do his jousting with aplomb and style that lesser commentators simply could not muster. Were he alive today he would be a fun and insightful blogger to read.

Thanks for the smile.