Subversive symbol?

[valis <valis@xxxxxxxxxx>]

===> Norman Solomon, reachable at mediabeat@xxxxxxxxxxx, is a writer
     dedicated to alerting us about the perverse relationship between
     politics and public language, a realm now almost wholly taken up
     by the covert combat of spin doctors.
     His current accusations against Dilbert cause me neither shock
     nor sorrow.  Toward the end of the period last year that the
     little dink spent hanging around this meeting hall I happened
     to brush against him in the elevator, and it was obvious that
     he was wearing a wire, small matter for whom.
                                                                 valis


[San Francisco Bay Guardian, Nov. 26 - Dec. 2, 1997]

DOWNSIZE DILBERT

     Oakland author and syndicated media columnist Norman Solomon
has clearly touched a nerve with his new book, "The Trouble With
Dilbert: How Corporate Culture Gets the Last Laugh" (Common
Courage Press, $9.95). The book reveals that the comic strip
character, who has been portrayed as a working class hero by
nearly every major media outlet, is a fraud.

     Dilbert's creator, Scott Adams, is unmasked in the book as
an unabashed supporter of corporate downsizing who has said, "My
only intention is for people to transfer money to me."

     Adams lives just on the other side of the Caldecott Tunnel
from Solomon, in the exclusive gated community of Blackhawk. He
told us he hadn't read the book but had been following the news
stories about it, and that its contents didn't bother him. "I'm
generally in favor of demagoguery, whether it is [Solomon's] or
mine," Adams told us.

     And does he really support corporate downsizing?

     "Is there anybody who doesn't?" he replied.

     The fact that corporate downsizing is good for the economy
is indisputable, Adams said, adding that anybody with an I.Q. of
more than 80 would agree.

     Adams turned down an offer to appear with Solomon on MSNBC
to discuss the book, saying he was busy. Would he agree to a
debate some other time?

     "If I didn't have anything better to do.... For example, I'm
about to get on my StairMaster for a workout. If MSNBC called
right now and asked me to debate Solomon, I'd have to decline."

     Despite Adams's dismissive attitude, the Dilbert backlash
may have begun.

     "Dilbert, Corporate Stooge?" reads a Nov. 17 Washington Post
headline. New York Newsday went so far as to write an editorial
on the subject titled: "Could Dilbert Be a Capitalist Tool?
Here's How."