I signed up to American Spectator's website a while ago so that I could post a comment.
It was on one of their wonderful articles about how the heaving masses of the poor should all be grateful for rich people, because of economics.
You know, one of those insightful pieces about how pleased we should all be at just how rich some people are, in case we get rich like them one day, even as they work every hour God sends to prevent this from ever happening.
So I didn't realize, but I ended up on their mailing list, and looked what turned up this morning, from R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jnr. himself:
Dear Spectator reader,
As a reader and supporter of The American Spectator, I know you are a brilliant, erudite, witty individual with a vast appreciation for history, economics, and our founding principles.
Yes, I am hoping flattery will get me somewhere. You see, I am writing today with a real, tangible need. [...]
This week, we are launching a $25,000 fundraising campaign to upgrade Spectator.org.
Where will your money go?
* Redesigned Website will improve the readers' Spectator experience;
* New Server Hardware will guarantee accessibility under high traffic;
* Digital Publishing will increase readership by providing Spectator content to iPhone, iPad, Kindle, and Android devices.
I may not understand the mechanics of these things, but I understand the importance. I hope you do too.
In order to continue providing you with outstanding wit and wisdom on the web, we need your support.
You can help. Please donate $25, $50, $100, or even $1,000 by March 11th to upgrade Spectator.org. I promise you will see results in a few short months.
In Liberty,
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.
Founder & Editor in Chief
The American Spectator
I'm sure you will join with me in mourning the financial difficulties that are currently afflicting this mighty organ.
More than 80 years of sticking it to the poor, and they're reduced to begging in order to upgrade their creaky website. Let's all hope it's just a blip - after all, times are tough right now, due to some recent spectacular failure of rampant capitalism or other, I don't quite remember.
But wait! Surely, if I've been reading my American Spectator articles right, asking for handouts is immoral? Surely any activity that does not make a profit should fail? And why would anybody donate money to a business anyway, when the American Spectator has been telling us since 1924 that nobody does anything for free?
It must be worse than we thought: not only are they broke, they've turned into pinko liberal commie scum.
And what a tragedy it would be if this magazine fails. Think of all that stellar content that would no longer be available. Stellar content like Ben Stein's diary:
I got up this morning and betook myself to a place called "The Casino Club," where I met a group of about 150 extremely, and I mean, EXTREMELY, successful businessmen, investors, entrepreneurs, and industrialists. Wow, as I moved among them and heard their stories, I was just flabbergasted at how successful they are[...]
My host, a handsome, genial fellow named Jay Jordan, seems to own about half of the businesses on the planet. The man on my left, a Mr. Joe Steinberg, seems to own the other half. They were both super chatty and friendly.
[snip]
In any event, the event went extremely well and the audience was super-smart, as you would expect. There were truly fabulously rich people there like the Pritzkers, real estate titans; Lester Crown, immense industrialist; Ken Griffin, billionaire hedge fund genius; and other hugely affluent people. I feel gratified that they considered listening to me worthy of their time and attention.
I for one shudder at the prospect of losing these priceless insights.
So, Kossacks, it's time to get your wallets out.