Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway
A Vicious and Unprovoked Attack on Our Most Cherished Political Institutions
Large Print Edition
By Dave Barry Random House Large Print, (2001)
ISBN: 0-375-43139-X
Genre: Political Humor
Reviewed by Herbert White - August 28, 2002
Dave Barry has a wry sense of humor and a knack for making fun of politicians. But is that really a knack when they seem to go out of their way to do really stupid things that make perfect fodder for a comedian's routine. Whether the politicians helped out or not, Barry still excels as a political humorist.
In Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway:
A Vicious and Unprovoked Attack on Our Most Cherished Political Institutions Barry pokes fun at just about every American political institutions imaginable, from the Constitution to income tax. For those that have trouble imagining - illustrations are provided! A most informative section details the multi-layers of bureaucracy that the California Prune Board had to wade through in an attempt to garner permission to call prunes, dried plums, which are in fact what prunes are. Their endeavor to affect this change, and all the hoops they had to jump through will clearly explain the problems inherent in a top heavy bureaucratic structure, when it comes to actually getting any work done.
Along the way, Barry delivers a tongue-in-cheek history lesson of Washington, D.C., and the electoral processes, complete with an in-depth look at the 2000 election and the Florida fiasco. Suitably, this unique satirical work ends with a look at Social Security - or its lack thereof. A word of warning, if you plan on reading this book in public, be prepared for funny looks because your going to find it impossible to chuckle silently!!!
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