Reader’s Review is a new feature here on the Spectator Book Club, and one which is rather self-explanatory. The idea is that, perhaps every fortnight or so, we shall publish a book review by a reader of the website. The first, below, of P.J. O’Rourke’s Don’t Vote…, is by Coffee House regular Peter from Maidstone (his online pseudonym, of course). Our gratitude goes out to him. If you would like to contribute a review yourself, then just email Pete Hoskin (phoskin @ spectator.co.uk) for details.
I wouldn’t normally read, let alone buy, a book with a beaming American on the dust jacket, especially an American wearing a blue blazer. But then I wouldn’t normally buy a book with a picture of anyone involved in politics smiling at me. It just isn’t a laughing matter. Perhaps it is another of those differences between the Americans and the English? Get beyond the cover and there is actually a great deal of interesting and insightful political comment in this latest volume by P. J. O’Rourke.
The various chapters are clearly based on speeches and articles which O’Rourke has produced over the years, and which he freely indicates in his acknowledgements. This results in a degree of repetition of similar ideas and not a great deal of connection between the chapters. Nevertheless, the book is divided into three sections which deal with O’Rourke’s ideas on political theory, political practice and some concluding thoughts.
It seems to me that he is best when talking about political theory, and the first part of the book is the most interesting. He rapidly demolishes any notion that politics is a means of solving the world’s problems, or could ever be. It is all about power, freedom and responsibility. Much of the rest of O’Rourke’s comments become an illustration of how things go wrong when we give up these valuable commodities to politicians in return for the things the state can give us.
Many of the observations he makes are universal, but when he starts dealing with the specifics of the American political system his reflections, though undoubtedly humorous, becomes less applicable, and sometimes even rather irritating. It is clear that he thinks American democracy is the best and greatest political system the world has ever seen, and that it should be exported post haste to every corner of the world. He has very few kind words for European and even British politics. He is, of course, entitled to his opinions but if it comes to loathing our own politicians then British people don’t need help from an American.
What is most disappointing is that O’Rourke doesn’t seem to have any answers to the problems he raises. Indeed he seems to conclude that as long as politicians are kept busy then they cannot cause lasting harm. But this is surely not our experience in the UK. Government here is not subject to the same checks and balances which are found in the American political system. Politicians can and do intrude in an entirely dominating and asymmetrical manner in the lives of ordinary people, and can and do change the very substance of our society and culture by their actions, for good or ill.
One such example is immigration. O’Rourke thinks it entirely a good thing because it allows him to employ cheap labour, but he does not need to address the negative aspects of immigration which concern so many British people. He does not need to worry about the growth of militant Islam, except as an external threat. He does not need to worry about the EU gaining ever greater influence and authority in national affairs. Perhaps the domestic politics he writes about is indeed less dangerous to the ordinary American. But, to the extent that it is, O’Rourke increasingly has little to say which is applicable to our British political condition.
His final chapter perhaps illustrates this. He builds up to a chapter in which he promises to describe what should be done with politicians and politics, but produces a disappointing squib, proposing that politicians be tasked with dealing with Somali pirates, or even become pirates themselves. It’s not a satisfying conclusion. Most British people just don’t find politics amusing at the moment and would be more likely to want to make politicians of all parties walk the plank, or keel haul them all.
Is O’Rourke writing seriously about politics or just telling jokes? There are plenty of genuine laughs in this book, but while he begins with some thought-provoking political theory he just doesn’t propose any meaningful answers. He talks tough but ultimately he is too soft on the politicians and politics he satirises and clearly spends a lot of time among.
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