Who’s Not Coming to Dinner?

Christ, I’m glad I* don’t eat at the restaurants Thomas Friedman frequents:

Of course, maybe he’s right… Still, Friedman says that “What ails us right now is as much a loss of confidence…as anything else.” Now, sure, he’s only a newspaper columnist and has, one supposes, a duty to call it as he sees it. But still, as perhaps still the most influential pundit in the country (even if his star has waned a little in recent years) you’d think he’d also appreciate the impact his own doom-laden sermons might have. That doesn’t mean one would recommend a Panglossian approach, but still… Ah well, at least irony and archness are back.

*Of course, I probably no longer count as young. Sic transit gloria etc etc.

[Via Rod, who took Friedman’s advice and canceled lunch.]

UPDATE: I should have thought of this. Thanks to commenter Ben for asking, “Does he [Friedman] go into bookshops and tell young people they should put down that copy of “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” and go to the library instead?”