THE NAME’S SIXPACK. JOE SIXPACK.

[defrog]

re Sarah Palin’s constant invocation of the term “Joe Six-Pack”:

I’m still waiting for someone to call her on this, since – in my mind – the term seems to imply an interpretation of the Working Class Guy as a beer-guzzling alcoholic. Which seems like an odd way to endear yrself to the blue-collar voting bloc, even if it's true.

Meanwhile, the AP’s Sharon Themier raises an even better question: who is this Joe Six-Pack anyway? Answer: he doesn’t exist.

Tagging voters with cliches simplifies them to the point of caricature — and is far removed from reality. People are more complicated than that, whether their employment status is classified as blue-collar, white-collar, retired, self-employed or unemployed. However pollsters might slice and dice the public, there is no Everyman.

Recommended reading.

DISCLAIMER: Technically, of course, Themier is incorrect in saying Joe Six-Pack doesn’t exist. He does. But he’s a beer correspondent for the Philadelphia Daily News, and I’m pretty sure that’s not who Sarah Palin means in her speeches. Unless he's secretly a lobbyist for the beer industry. Then it makes a little more sense – in as much as Sarah Palin makes sense about anything, that is.

More beer,

This is dF

Comments

[def-fr0g-42.livejournal.com]

Well then I dig you right back. One of my first 45s was "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", and it was love at first listen. I was ten. I've got everything up to Fire of Unknown Origin (except Mirrors) on CD and in rotation on the iPod. Personally, I rate Secret Treaties as their best album overall, but really any of their first five studio albums are essential listening.

And yeah, "Then Came The Last Days Of May" is a beautiful song.

And funny you should mention it: BOC will figure somewhat prominently in my next NaNoWriMo attempt next month. You heard it here first.