I would argue that the elites are actually quite happy that most people don't think. thinking is the last thing they want from the masses because then they must explain themselves effectively. However, I would also argue that the anti-intellectualism that is currently in the ascendancy is a direct product of the ongoing misinformation from those same experts. Based on the saying, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, many people in the wake of the pandemic and the government responses are rejecting everything from those who fooled them the first time. This may not be the best outcome, but it is certainly rational.
Also, regarding presidential intelligence, I would offer that being book smart, a la Jimmy Carter, is not necessarily a requrirment to be successful, however having a high EQ is definitely necessary. Whatever you want to say about Reagan, he was very effective at connecting with the population and communicating his vision. Trump has the same EQ, and the ability to excite a crowd, although his articulation is far less impressive.
but in the end, my belief is that nobody who is really smart wants to become president. it is a poison chalice, far too much trouble for someone who is not massively egoistic and narcissistic. And that is why we don't get very many smart people running.
your comments about canada , do not nearly describe the economic , and social destruction in canada under trudeau . july 1 is an increased carbon tax on fuel which will raise all costs (because what does not use fuel ) , and under his green insanity net zero fantasy , trudeau is going ahead with his , just transition legislation , which will decimate the canadian oil producing provinces . thanks to ndp , look ma , i control the balance of power , leader singh , by the time he qualifies for his golden pension , and we get to vote , we may need to elect a bankruptcy trustee instead of p. Poilievre
I would probably be considered a member of the intellectual class (BA, JD), and for most of my life held experts and those seemingly more intelligent than I in high regard. The “pandemic”, though, was a shock of a wake-up call. I have virtually no regard for experts now and reflexively reject whatever the consensus is. In this respect, the pandemic served a useful purpose. Let’s hope this healthy mistrust of experts lasts.
Hey Jared! You're a fantastic writer. No critiques. Come from the "Agora" family tree. One of our first things we learned is to start with the most captivating sentence. Would've been amazing if your first line which stood on its own was:
"Every time Bill Gates opens his mouth, I want to stuff a summer sausage in it. "
I have always said that education is too important to be left up to the education experts. And the teachers unions and Democrat party have demonstrated the truth of that position. I never considered Nixon to be an intellectual. or even smart.
Bill Gates is a funny example. He is a droopy bodied snob. You would think he would eat better and exercise before lecturing anyone on health. Many dumb people are smart and hanging drywall is not as easy as it looks. Confusing education with intelligence is a mistake. My college housemate was a math professor, so I was around many of them socially, some are dumb as bricks. The Fed is full of people who are supposed to be smart. People like them lead to a distrust not just of smart people, but of academics.
That said, as a little kid whose goal in school was to learn, I felt very alone.
As a Canadian let me reply to your Canada comments. I feel we have normal taxes. You have too low taxes and too many ways to reduce taxes in devious ways. The result of this shows up everywhere. Inflation is same as yours. Interest rates are about the same too. Housing bubbles are frothy in Vancouver and Toronto. But perhaps not that different versus your major cities for similar reasons. Feel free to not give a shot about my comments. Have a good day regardless and thanks for your ongoing commentaries.
I would argue that the elites are actually quite happy that most people don't think. thinking is the last thing they want from the masses because then they must explain themselves effectively. However, I would also argue that the anti-intellectualism that is currently in the ascendancy is a direct product of the ongoing misinformation from those same experts. Based on the saying, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, many people in the wake of the pandemic and the government responses are rejecting everything from those who fooled them the first time. This may not be the best outcome, but it is certainly rational.
Also, regarding presidential intelligence, I would offer that being book smart, a la Jimmy Carter, is not necessarily a requrirment to be successful, however having a high EQ is definitely necessary. Whatever you want to say about Reagan, he was very effective at connecting with the population and communicating his vision. Trump has the same EQ, and the ability to excite a crowd, although his articulation is far less impressive.
but in the end, my belief is that nobody who is really smart wants to become president. it is a poison chalice, far too much trouble for someone who is not massively egoistic and narcissistic. And that is why we don't get very many smart people running.
your comments about canada , do not nearly describe the economic , and social destruction in canada under trudeau . july 1 is an increased carbon tax on fuel which will raise all costs (because what does not use fuel ) , and under his green insanity net zero fantasy , trudeau is going ahead with his , just transition legislation , which will decimate the canadian oil producing provinces . thanks to ndp , look ma , i control the balance of power , leader singh , by the time he qualifies for his golden pension , and we get to vote , we may need to elect a bankruptcy trustee instead of p. Poilievre
I would probably be considered a member of the intellectual class (BA, JD), and for most of my life held experts and those seemingly more intelligent than I in high regard. The “pandemic”, though, was a shock of a wake-up call. I have virtually no regard for experts now and reflexively reject whatever the consensus is. In this respect, the pandemic served a useful purpose. Let’s hope this healthy mistrust of experts lasts.
Hey Jared! You're a fantastic writer. No critiques. Come from the "Agora" family tree. One of our first things we learned is to start with the most captivating sentence. Would've been amazing if your first line which stood on its own was:
"Every time Bill Gates opens his mouth, I want to stuff a summer sausage in it. "
I have always said that education is too important to be left up to the education experts. And the teachers unions and Democrat party have demonstrated the truth of that position. I never considered Nixon to be an intellectual. or even smart.
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/masks-effective-study-respected-group-misinterpreted/story?id=97846561
Bill Gates is a funny example. He is a droopy bodied snob. You would think he would eat better and exercise before lecturing anyone on health. Many dumb people are smart and hanging drywall is not as easy as it looks. Confusing education with intelligence is a mistake. My college housemate was a math professor, so I was around many of them socially, some are dumb as bricks. The Fed is full of people who are supposed to be smart. People like them lead to a distrust not just of smart people, but of academics.
That said, as a little kid whose goal in school was to learn, I felt very alone.
As a Canadian let me reply to your Canada comments. I feel we have normal taxes. You have too low taxes and too many ways to reduce taxes in devious ways. The result of this shows up everywhere. Inflation is same as yours. Interest rates are about the same too. Housing bubbles are frothy in Vancouver and Toronto. But perhaps not that different versus your major cities for similar reasons. Feel free to not give a shot about my comments. Have a good day regardless and thanks for your ongoing commentaries.
Congratulations. You made this cheese-head learn a new word today---effete.
Now that you are a hotshot graduate, I figured I better not assume I knew the word's definition.
We're all on the outside - just different insides.