Don't look backlash

Once you have read something or written something or simply sucked in your teeth and whistled a song from the back-most corners of your mind, you can begin to count upon the backlash. The backlash does not come with any sense of clear vengeance or vendetta. The backlash does not come from a frenzy of jealous yearning or the most bitter retribution. Nor should the backlash be confused with an idiot quest for justice, where only the moon can be safely considered to be outside the realm of foolish questions and cast-iron theories (see the detruction of a "fourth tower" or the quiet careers of Elvis Preseley).

The backlash exists to complete a clear certain but slippery sequel, that is to say the stuff you were sold on Monday is proved to be poor and hollow on Friday and whose original existence serves only to demonstrate the need to be vigilant and sceptical, even as we cling to a new and breathtaking development. This is at work in the production of news, it is not a hunger it is a meal and it's timing is predictable. Two examples of the backlash, the first is the rather dismal reviews for the new film about Hunter S Thompson. His drug habits and his expanding ego are not pleasant prospects but for years he has been lionised for writing outside the loop and now the loop has closed mercilessly. The second would be the banking crisis. "No-one saw it coming" being the current cry but more accurate might be "no-one was looking" and in this case the backlash is based on a gathering mental momentum that says that only banks can avert further crises because only banks know how to invest money. Now which part of the word "bankrupt" did we not understand the first time?