The Washington Post’s junky rant against Princess Catherine’s entrepreneurial family
Not a cacked-out zombie on the corner of Hollywood & Western¹ mumbling-to-himself junkie, but the junk consumers purchase. (Fun w/ English: Why do you think they call it junk?)
Worse (including possible stench factor) than encountering our mythical junkie would be witnessing yet another recipient of welfare for guys or gals who can't make it in the corporate world² give a tongue bath to those above his station,
In my Journal op-ed, I also made the point that Prince William’s wedding to the daughter of entrepreneurs represents an elevation of the status of entrepreneurs in British culture. “For centuries in Britain, commercial activities were looked down upon by many in the aristocracy, whose wealth lay in landownership and who would not deign to dabble in trade,” I noted.followed, as is to be expected, by a tongue lashing administered to those bound for a lower (Yet still elite!) station.
However, a few days ago The Washington Post proved that cultural snobbery against entrepreneurs doesn’t just exist on the other side of the Atlantic. In its daily Express, a tabloid that is handed out on weekdays at Washington subway stations, The Post deigned to dabble in bashing the Middletons’ business.
An April 22 blurb in a section on the royal wedding (not available online) headlined “Party with the parents” noted royal family-themed items on the website of Party Pieces, the Middletons’ family business, such as Union Jack chocolates and “God Save the Queen” napkins. It then scoffed, “Yes, the parents of a soon-to-be princess really sell this junk.”
And entrepreneurs need all the encouragement they can get. The Post shows that cultural snobbery against those who try to better their lot isn’t just a British thing. A few weeks ago my Competitive Enterprise Institute colleague Christine Hall noted The Post’s elitist rant against coupon clippers.Sweet Blood of Jesus! Bad enough her family are tradespeople, but we didn't know how vulgar a trade.
The irony of the preachy Posties is that the royal “junk” sold by Party Pieces will provide a lifetime of memories. By contrast, the junky Post Express isn’t fit to line the Middletons’ birdcage!
If calling those who don't sufficiently suck up to the new post-Thatcherite nobility elitists & snobs hasn't killed irony, the poor thing's certainly going to be in hospital for a month or two.
1.Sadly dated example. Redeveloped & sterilized some time ago.
2. Bio: John Berlau is director of the Center for Investors and Entrepreneurs at the Competitive Enterprise Institute Let's be fair. There probably is quite a bit of
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