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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How long did Jesse Jackson propose to freeze military spending?

2. When O'Rourke paints a cynical picture of the concept of "majority rule," what does he say that all pants will be made of?

3. O'Rourke visited the Department of Transportation and was surprised to discover that many of the workers were fans of what?

4. Who was the director of the Office of Management and Budget at the time George H. W. Bush's 1991 budget was completed?

5. What party game does O'Rourke liken the American political system to?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did O'Rourke learn from an anonymous functionary at the Department of Transportation?

2. How does O'Rourke feel that consumer advocates compel increased bureaucracy?

3. How does O'Rourke describe the Republican and Democratic platforms during the 1988 elections?

4. Who does O'Rourke blame for the perceived poor state of the nation, and who does he let off the hook?

5. How does O'Rourke feel about the concept of political conventions?

6. What did Ted Kennedy mean when he said "Where was George?"

7. What did a study show about the Audi 500 and its supposed runaway car syndrome?

8. What does O'Rourke say is the best way to truly understand the function of government?

9. What problems does O'Rourke see with the U.S. Constitution?

10. How does O'Rourke depict Washington journalists?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the Supreme Court's 1990 ruling that flag burning cannot be prohibited. What is the significance of the author mentioning this ruling? Why does O'Rourke believe that the Supreme Court ruled that flag burning cannot be prohibited? What does the ruling seem to convey about how the Supreme Court works? What are O'Rourke's feelings about the Supreme Court?

Essay Topic 2

How does O'Rourke say the government essentially put itself into debt? How does the government spend its money, according to the author? What does O'Rourke say is the main reason the country is in debt? What techniques does the author use to express his feelings about the government's spending habits? What point is O'Rourke trying to make about the government and the citizens?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the significance of Michael Dukakis in the book. How does O'Rourke use Dukakis' past experience as governor to mock him? What problems did he see with the way Dukakis led? What problems did he see with the promises Dukakis made to the U.S. citizens?

(see the answer keys)

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