American author, satirist, and journalist P. J. O'Rourke is well-known for his writings on politics, culture, and the economy. He frequently makes observations about the intricacies of contemporary society by using irony and comedy. He addresses the concept of government support for the print journalism sector in one of his works.

Imagine living in a city where newspapers are the only source of news. These newspapers now resemble ancient trees that have stood tall for many years in a park. However, as time passes and stronger, younger plants begin to grow around them, some people believe it's time for the older trees to make way for the new ones.

According to this comparison, O'Rourke views print journalism as one of those old trees that is still appreciated but is having trouble competing with more modern forms of media, such as online news sources. Although many people would be pleased to see taxpayers help these traditional newspapers continue to exist, he says there is a growing sentiment among the public that such assistance may not be worthwhile.

This skepticism is reflected in O'Rourke's quote, which raises questions about how public funds might wind up funding what some consider to be an antiquated or biased industry. He makes fun of the irony of supporting young journalists' careers when those same people could have been expected to focus on more socially beneficial endeavors, like volunteering in Africa.

The premise here is that why should taxpayers pay for someone's work at home if they chose a profession they thought would significantly improve society? This viewpoint contributes to larger discussions regarding the importance of journalism and its place in democracies. O'Rourke frequently uses witty language when addressing these topics, which makes his writing both entertaining and thought-provoking for his audience.