Customer Reviews

Everybody Is Stupid Except for Me: And Other Astute Observations

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Peter Bagge is, perhaps, the wittiest, most talented political cartoonist out there. And paradoxically, he's also the least doctrinaire, and perhaps the only political cartoonist who doubts and questions his own beliefs in his work.

Bagge's intuitions lead him to beliefs best characterized as libertarian- the idea that the rights of the individual are sacred, and that governments cannot- or should not- ever sacrifice the individual for the "common good." Yet unlike some who profess libertarian (or Individualist) philosophies, Bagge is possessed of a strong moral sense that compels him to consider the interests of those who are the worst off in society. This essential tension, combined with Bagge's brilliant art and ear for dialogue, makes his work at once entertaining and thought provoking.

There are few, if any, heroes in Bagge's work. Most politicians strike him as less than admirable, whatever their political leanings. He finds doublespeak and self-interest as common in politicians as in businessmen, and will quickly point out when he sees taffy being distributed, whether by flag waving cultural conservatives or granola chomping communitarians. Bagge peers through the nonsense, and looks at the real dynamics

If you're tired of the sanctimonious rants of Gary Trudeau, Tom Tomorrow and other untalented, doctrinaire posers, take a look at Bagge's work. You'll come away impressed, entertained, and, perhaps, compelled to think about some issues in a new way.

You see I'm a liberal. And as much as I want to embrace the libertarian perspective, I do believe that governments serve a purpose and that scaling them back to the most basic essentials is a terrible idea. And the Ayn Rand loonies only make me uncomfortable with their belief that unfettered capitalism wasn't given enough of a chance in the last 30 years. However, there are enough examples of waste and corruption that make me sympathetic towards the libertarian worldview. And if anyone could convince me to join the Libertarian party, it's Peter Bagge.

Of course, Bagge is too much of an artist to fall back into polemics. Like Gary Trudeau and Berke Breathed at their best, he's able to talk about politics in a way that illuminates the humorous and makes a point without feeling like a tired sermon. He skewers himself with just as much wit and humor as he skewers the targets - both easy and sacred - like anti-war protesters, feminists, George Bush, anti-drug laws and the NEA. Even better, he manages to explain and mock complicated dynamics like Seattle municipal politics, homelessness and government waste.

However, some of the best moments happen when Bagge is being serious. His comic about the medical marijuana distributor whose constantly being harassed by the police and legal representatives is both tragic and anger inducing. The fact that these moronic drug laws are still on the books just make matters worse. His comic on bums seems like it's going to be one of those comics that just dumps on the homeless but then turns quite sentimental when he's interviewing the career homeless.

Another interesting thing of note is the fact that he's not an extremist for the libertarian view. He is uncomfortable with Ron Paul's rants against the Federal Reserve. He does see some value in welfare. After reading this book, one gets the feeling that if only we got rid of the corrupt and wasteful programs, we'd have more than enough money to pay for a decent health care system.

Anyhow, if you like Hate comics and wonder what Bagge has been up to, definitely read this book. It definitely shows Bagge's growth as an artist and a political thinker.

I'm normally a big fan of Peter Bagge--his Buddy Bradley books are works of genius--but this collection of self-righteous idiotic rants is a complete waste of money and time. I'm normally fine with (if mildly amused by) Bagge's Libertarian edge, but this foray into political commentary is disoriented, disjointed, and too often downright boring--the comic book equivalent of an Andy Rooney bit.
At its best, Everybody is Stupid comes off like a rambling email from that deranged relative who spends too much time on internet forums. At its worst, the subjects of its rants are predictable and outdated, often leaving you with the feeling that you had heard the same argument or pointed observation worded better somewhere before.
Save your money and go listen to the maniac at the bus stop instead--at least some of his ideas may be original.

God I love Peter always have always will. I love Hate and everything he has done, and this book is no exception. It's funny and crazy with his own brand of drawings that I think are better than anyone else out there. No one compares to Peter ever!!!

Bagge is a favorite of mine, so I did my best to ignore his inept political observations. He has a real knack for humor in comic form. I prefer his "pure fiction".