Escalating Complexity and the Collapse of Elite Authority(esr.ibiblio.org)
esr.ibiblio.org
Escalating Complexity and the Collapse of Elite Authority
http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=1551
4 comments
There are lots of points just not addressed here, as well as some blatant hypocrisy:
1. The US has always had a strong distrust for "ivory tower types". This is not new in the last 60 years. This distrust has lead to a constant resistance against anything some random guy doesn't understand. Such resistance leads to half-measures, comprimises, and outright rebellion, so the "educated classes" don't actually complexify as much as the distributed calls for "more accountibility" and "save us from X".
2. The criticisms are not about meritocracy, but the lack of it. If the best solutions/people were always chosen, there wouldn't be problems, there would be solutions. There may be a good criticism of selection criteria in there tho.
3. Calls for a populist revolution while criticizing those who pander to the people, for doing just that.
4. Calling for a debt stigma in a 'CAS' aka 'free market' can only work in waves, because at various points there will be those saying "debt isn't that bad, you can afford it" because they make money from this.
1. The US has always had a strong distrust for "ivory tower types". This is not new in the last 60 years. This distrust has lead to a constant resistance against anything some random guy doesn't understand. Such resistance leads to half-measures, comprimises, and outright rebellion, so the "educated classes" don't actually complexify as much as the distributed calls for "more accountibility" and "save us from X".
2. The criticisms are not about meritocracy, but the lack of it. If the best solutions/people were always chosen, there wouldn't be problems, there would be solutions. There may be a good criticism of selection criteria in there tho.
3. Calls for a populist revolution while criticizing those who pander to the people, for doing just that.
4. Calling for a debt stigma in a 'CAS' aka 'free market' can only work in waves, because at various points there will be those saying "debt isn't that bad, you can afford it" because they make money from this.
Reminiscent of Thomas Jefferson.
I'm just finished a book on Jefferson, and I can't help but draw that conclusion.
I'm just finished a book on Jefferson, and I can't help but draw that conclusion.
Beg pardon?
Don't call attention to the crazy. If you let it lie, you'll let it die. Talking about it just makes it seem like perhaps a valid viewpoint.
It has all the classics: cursing the "educated classes," citing "The Bell Curve," and entreating the reader to join his local militia. A sprinkle of red-baiting and survivalist paranoia adds a delicate finish to an otherwise overwhelmingly fruity bouquet.