Downsize Dilbert -- Scott Adams Responds

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."