Yahoo, he says dispiritedly

JMSmith continues to tear along. Today he gives us this quote from H. L. Mencken, critic of just about everything:

“Out of the muck of their swinishness the typical American law-maker emerges.  He is a man who has lied and dissembled, and a man who has crawled.  He knows the taste of boot polish.  He has suffered kicks in the tonneau of his pantaloons.  He has taken orders from his superiors in knavery and has wooed and flattered his inferiors in sense.  His public life is an endless series of evasions and false pretenses.  He is willing to embrace any issue, however idiotic, that will get him votes, and he is willing to sacrifice any principle, however sound, that will lose them for him.  I do not describe the democratic politician at his inordinate worst; I describe him as he is encountered in the full sunshine of normalcy . . . . It is almost an axion that no man may make a career in politics in the Republic without stooping to such ignobility: it is as necessary as a loud voice . . . . They are men who, at some time or other, have compromised with their honor, either by swallowing their convictions or by whooping for what they believe to be untrue.  They are in the position of the chorus girl who, in order to get her humble job, has had to admit the manager to her person.” - H.L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy

Then YouTube pops up this live music performance, which may be good or bad, it didn't capture my ear right off so I went back to listening to classic rock, but the blurb that accompanied it is just ghastly:

Tune in to see Metallica, Charlie Puth, Jonas Brothers, MÅNESKIN, Mariah Carey, Mickey Guyton, and Rosalía perform live from NYC's Central Park and Usher, SZA, Stormzy, Gyakie, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Uncle Waffles, and TEMS, perform live from Accra's Black Star Square as part of this year's Global Citizen Festival. With Priyanka Chopra Jonas hosting in NYC + Danai Gurira hosting in Accra, this show combines the power for activism with music to make a huge impact.

(I've only heard of a couple of the performers and they have no attraction for me.) 

This year, with a new mission that’s more urgent than ever, Global Citizen is embarking on an ambitious campaign that spans the world. With a focus on empowering adolescent girls and women so that we can End Extreme Poverty NOW, Global Citizen is calling on world leaders, corporations, and philanthropists to do more than they’ve ever done before.

With stages in two iconic locations, we will unite leaders, artists, activists, and Global Citizen to achieve an ambitious policy agenda focused on empowering girls and women, taking climate action, breaking systemic barriers, and lifting up activists and advocates.

Along with celebrating 10 years of Global Citizen Festivals, this year marks the 65th anniversary of Ghana’s independence, together with the 20th anniversary of the African Union, a powerful group of nations who will help set the trajectory of the continent for the coming decades.

I mean, there is nothing wrong with it. Some producers staged a concert, some musicians performed and a bunch of people went to listen them. That's all fine and well, but End Extreme Poverty NOW? Yeah, that aint' gonna happen. The concert will gather a bunch of money into a pile and then it will be doled out. Some money may trickle down to a soup kitchen, but most of it is going to end up in someone's pocket where it will either be invested in real estate or blown on hookers and blow.