Wanted to point out here that literally everything that liberals think attracts Trump voters to Trump they can get from Ron DeSantis and yet Trump still seems to be coasting to the presidential nomination. Trump is and always was a burn-it-all-down candidate no matter how many dumb Donk strategists just think it's "racism" and "xenophobia".In this story, we anti-Trumpers are the good guys, the forces of progress and enlightenment. The Trumpers are reactionary bigots and authoritarians. Many Republicans support Trump no matter what, according to this story, because at the end of the day, he’s still the bigot in chief, the embodiment of their resentments and that’s what matters to them most.
I partly agree with this story, but it’s also a monument to elite self-satisfaction.
So let me try another story on you. I ask you to try on a vantage point in which we anti-Trumpers are not the eternal good guys. In fact, we’re the bad guys.
This story begins in the 1960s, when high school grads had to go off to fight in Vietnam but the children of the educated class got college deferments. It continues in the 1970s, when the authorities imposed busing on working-class areas in Boston but not on the upscale communities like Wellesley where they themselves lived.
The ideal that we’re all in this together was replaced with the reality that the educated class lives in a world up here and everybody else is forced into a world down there. Members of our class are always publicly speaking out for the marginalized, but somehow we always end up building systems that serve ourselves.
The most important of those systems is the modern meritocracy. We built an entire social order that sorts and excludes people on the basis of the quality that we possess most: academic achievement. Highly educated parents go to elite schools, marry each other, work at high-paying professional jobs and pour enormous resources into our children, who get into the same elite schools, marry each other and pass their exclusive class privileges down from generation to generation.
Daniel Markovits summarized years of research in his book “The Meritocracy Trap”: “Today, middle-class children lose out to the rich children at school, and middle-class adults lose out to elite graduates at work. Meritocracy blocks the middle class from opportunity. Then it blames those who lose a competition for income and status that, even when everyone plays by the rules, only the rich can win.”
David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
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David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/opin ... cated.html
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
Also a personality cult that DeSantis doesn't have (outside of Florida)
"The unmasking thing was all created by Devin Nunes"
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
DeSantis exudes phoniness. Trump's racism and xenophobia, unfortunately, is straight from the heart like a cannonballPwns wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 1:04 pm https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/opin ... cated.html
Wanted to point out here that literally everything that liberals think attracts Trump voters to Trump they can get from Ron DeSantis and yet Trump still seems to be coasting to the presidential nomination. Trump is and always was a burn-it-all-down candidate no matter how many dumb Donk strategists just think it's "racism" and "xenophobia".In this story, we anti-Trumpers are the good guys, the forces of progress and enlightenment. The Trumpers are reactionary bigots and authoritarians. Many Republicans support Trump no matter what, according to this story, because at the end of the day, he’s still the bigot in chief, the embodiment of their resentments and that’s what matters to them most.
I partly agree with this story, but it’s also a monument to elite self-satisfaction.
So let me try another story on you. I ask you to try on a vantage point in which we anti-Trumpers are not the eternal good guys. In fact, we’re the bad guys.
This story begins in the 1960s, when high school grads had to go off to fight in Vietnam but the children of the educated class got college deferments. It continues in the 1970s, when the authorities imposed busing on working-class areas in Boston but not on the upscale communities like Wellesley where they themselves lived.
The ideal that we’re all in this together was replaced with the reality that the educated class lives in a world up here and everybody else is forced into a world down there. Members of our class are always publicly speaking out for the marginalized, but somehow we always end up building systems that serve ourselves.
The most important of those systems is the modern meritocracy. We built an entire social order that sorts and excludes people on the basis of the quality that we possess most: academic achievement. Highly educated parents go to elite schools, marry each other, work at high-paying professional jobs and pour enormous resources into our children, who get into the same elite schools, marry each other and pass their exclusive class privileges down from generation to generation.
Daniel Markovits summarized years of research in his book “The Meritocracy Trap”: “Today, middle-class children lose out to the rich children at school, and middle-class adults lose out to elite graduates at work. Meritocracy blocks the middle class from opportunity. Then it blames those who lose a competition for income and status that, even when everyone plays by the rules, only the rich can win.”
The best way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of opinion but allow very lively debate within that spectrum - Noam Chomsky
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
David Brooks discovers a conscious and realizes the ascension of neoliberalism only serves a select few.Pwns wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 1:04 pm https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/opin ... cated.html
Wanted to point out here that literally everything that liberals think attracts Trump voters to Trump they can get from Ron DeSantis and yet Trump still seems to be coasting to the presidential nomination. Trump is and always was a burn-it-all-down candidate no matter how many dumb Donk strategists just think it's "racism" and "xenophobia".In this story, we anti-Trumpers are the good guys, the forces of progress and enlightenment. The Trumpers are reactionary bigots and authoritarians. Many Republicans support Trump no matter what, according to this story, because at the end of the day, he’s still the bigot in chief, the embodiment of their resentments and that’s what matters to them most.
I partly agree with this story, but it’s also a monument to elite self-satisfaction.
So let me try another story on you. I ask you to try on a vantage point in which we anti-Trumpers are not the eternal good guys. In fact, we’re the bad guys.
This story begins in the 1960s, when high school grads had to go off to fight in Vietnam but the children of the educated class got college deferments. It continues in the 1970s, when the authorities imposed busing on working-class areas in Boston but not on the upscale communities like Wellesley where they themselves lived.
The ideal that we’re all in this together was replaced with the reality that the educated class lives in a world up here and everybody else is forced into a world down there. Members of our class are always publicly speaking out for the marginalized, but somehow we always end up building systems that serve ourselves.
The most important of those systems is the modern meritocracy. We built an entire social order that sorts and excludes people on the basis of the quality that we possess most: academic achievement. Highly educated parents go to elite schools, marry each other, work at high-paying professional jobs and pour enormous resources into our children, who get into the same elite schools, marry each other and pass their exclusive class privileges down from generation to generation.
Daniel Markovits summarized years of research in his book “The Meritocracy Trap”: “Today, middle-class children lose out to the rich children at school, and middle-class adults lose out to elite graduates at work. Meritocracy blocks the middle class from opportunity. Then it blames those who lose a competition for income and status that, even when everyone plays by the rules, only the rich can win.”
Trump is all of the above. Burn it down, racist, xenophobic, narcissistic, born on 3rd base. His followers are the ultimate sheep.
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
I guess the wilful suspension of disbelief is easier than the ten seconds of thought it takes to see through him.kalm wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 4:53 amDavid Brooks discovers a conscious and realizes the ascension of neoliberalism only serves a select few.Pwns wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 1:04 pm https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/opin ... cated.html
Wanted to point out here that literally everything that liberals think attracts Trump voters to Trump they can get from Ron DeSantis and yet Trump still seems to be coasting to the presidential nomination. Trump is and always was a burn-it-all-down candidate no matter how many dumb Donk strategists just think it's "racism" and "xenophobia".
Trump is all of the above. Burn it down, racist, xenophobic, narcissistic, born on 3rd base. His followers are the ultimate sheep.
The best way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of opinion but allow very lively debate within that spectrum - Noam Chomsky
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
Ah yes, the power of influential family. I remember hearing a conversation years ago when I was working at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.
A regular in the fitness center was telling another how he gotten his son a job with Ernest and Julio Gallo. He was dismayed that his son was only offered $75k and then said he told his son not to take the job. "How is he supposed to get by on only $75k per year?"
All this while I'm rolling towels in the fitness center making $6 per hour.
A regular in the fitness center was telling another how he gotten his son a job with Ernest and Julio Gallo. He was dismayed that his son was only offered $75k and then said he told his son not to take the job. "How is he supposed to get by on only $75k per year?"
All this while I'm rolling towels in the fitness center making $6 per hour.
Everything is better with SeattleGriz
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
So what’s that make Biden then? A Super racist?kalm wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 4:53 amDavid Brooks discovers a conscious and realizes the ascension of neoliberalism only serves a select few.Pwns wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 1:04 pm https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/opin ... cated.html
Wanted to point out here that literally everything that liberals think attracts Trump voters to Trump they can get from Ron DeSantis and yet Trump still seems to be coasting to the presidential nomination. Trump is and always was a burn-it-all-down candidate no matter how many dumb Donk strategists just think it's "racism" and "xenophobia".
Trump is all of the above. Burn it down, racist, xenophobic, narcissistic, born on 3rd base. His followers are the ultimate sheep.
So Trump is a narcissist just like Obama..(The chance that someone who writes 2 autobiographies before age 50 being a narcissist is 100%)..
Last edited by BDKJMU on Sat Aug 05, 2023 9:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
And if this was mid 1990s, that would be more like 150k today..SeattleGriz wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 7:02 am Ah yes, the power of influential family. I remember hearing a conversation years ago when I was working at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.
A regular in the fitness center was telling another how he gotten his son a job with Ernest and Julio Gallo. He was dismayed that his son was only offered $75k and then said he told his son not to take the job. "How is he supposed to get by on only $75k per year?"
All this while I'm rolling towels in the fitness center making $6 per hour.
..peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard..
JMU Football: 2022 & 2023 Sun Belt East Champions...But you have to go home now. We have to have peace…
..I know how you feel, but go home, and go home in peace.
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
Bingo! This was my very first job after leaving Montana after college.BDKJMU wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 9:12 amAnd if this was mid 1990s, that would be more like 150k today..SeattleGriz wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 7:02 am Ah yes, the power of influential family. I remember hearing a conversation years ago when I was working at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.
A regular in the fitness center was telling another how he gotten his son a job with Ernest and Julio Gallo. He was dismayed that his son was only offered $75k and then said he told his son not to take the job. "How is he supposed to get by on only $75k per year?"
All this while I'm rolling towels in the fitness center making $6 per hour.
Everything is better with SeattleGriz
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
*consciencekalm wrote:David Brooks discovers a conscious and realizes the ascension of neoliberalism only serves a select few.Pwns wrote: ↑Fri Aug 04, 2023 1:04 pm https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/opin ... cated.html
Wanted to point out here that literally everything that liberals think attracts Trump voters to Trump they can get from Ron DeSantis and yet Trump still seems to be coasting to the presidential nomination. Trump is and always was a burn-it-all-down candidate no matter how many dumb Donk strategists just think it's "racism" and "xenophobia".
Trump is all of the above. Burn it down, racist, xenophobic, narcissistic, born on 3rd base. His followers are the ultimate sheep.
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
And Marx’s followers are the ultimate sheep.CID1990 wrote:*consciencekalm wrote: David Brooks discovers a conscious and realizes the ascension of neoliberalism only serves a select few.
Trump is all of the above. Burn it down, racist, xenophobic, narcissistic, born on 3rd base. His followers are the ultimate sheep.
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
Fuck yeah! Tell em!
The best way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of opinion but allow very lively debate within that spectrum - Noam Chomsky
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
The funny thing is that Marxism is similar to Ayn Rand’s libertarianism. Great on paper while ignoring human corruption and greed.
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
I was just thinking of her a couple days ago - I'm having a hard time retrieving a couple of vehicles from where they went to be serviced/repaired. My electric buggy (4wd/64Volt) went to the shop for a microswitch 2 months ago, still there; another local dealer has had my mowing machine for a month since the deck belt broke, still there....entropy is picking up speed on multiple fronts.
The best way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of opinion but allow very lively debate within that spectrum - Noam Chomsky
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
houndawg wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 3:13 amI was just thinking of her a couple days ago - I'm having a hard time retrieving a couple of vehicles from where they went to be serviced/repaired. My electric buggy (4wd/64Volt) went to the shop for a microswitch 2 months ago, still there; another local dealer has had my mowing machine for a month since the deck belt broke, still there....entropy is picking up speed on multiple fronts.
Is this what is meant by capitalism needing to be saved from itself?
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
Back in the day capitalists understood that the crumbs they left on the table supported a thriving middle class whose ambition was to be just like them.kalm wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 5:22 amhoundawg wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 3:13 am
I was just thinking of her a couple days ago - I'm having a hard time retrieving a couple of vehicles from where they went to be serviced/repaired. My electric buggy (4wd/64Volt) went to the shop for a microswitch 2 months ago, still there; another local dealer has had my mowing machine for a month since the deck belt broke, still there....entropy is picking up speed on multiple fronts.
Is this what is meant by capitalism needing to be saved from itself?
The best way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of opinion but allow very lively debate within that spectrum - Noam Chomsky
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David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
Back in the day big government types understood that the revenue generated by capitalists was what ultimately funded the government now they think the government is the engine and that they can just print money like some Weimar Republic.
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
How far back?UNI88 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 7:56 amBack in the day big government types understood that the revenue generated by capitalists was what ultimately funded the government now they think the government is the engine and that they can just print money like some Weimar Republic.houndawg wrote:
Back in the day capitalists understood that the crumbs they left on the table supported a thriving middle class whose ambition was to be just like them.
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
Pre Bernie, Warren, AOChe and the other social terrorists.kalm wrote:How far back?UNI88 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 7:56 am Back in the day big government types understood that the revenue generated by capitalists was what ultimately funded the government now they think the government is the engine and that they can just print money like some Weimar Republic.
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Being wrong about a topic is called post partisanism - kalm
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
What were the tax rates?
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
The best way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of opinion but allow very lively debate within that spectrum - Noam Chomsky
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
You two are making a solid run at replacing SG and SDH as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne. Keep up the good work. In your current path you’ll be there soon.
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Being wrong about a topic is called post partisanism - kalm
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
Translation: Back in the day corporations paid their fair share.
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Re: David Brooks: What if We're the Bad Guys, here?
We’ll never replace you and Ganny!