Is there a conceit we've collectively fallen prey to: that anyone is as good as anyone else? I'd suggest that is the case.

In orign, it may be an artifact of our democracy itself. Or the rhetoric around our democracy.

All men are created equal.
Each person's vote counts as the same.
We're all treated the same before the law.
My opinion is as good as yours.
And recently, there were "some very fine people on both sides."

All of these are lies, of course. They exist along a spectrum from aspirational goals to well intentioned pablum and end at dishonorable, tribal bull puckey.

It's a kind of madness. But it's a disease of the mind we share. People may be understandably reluctant to admit that someone else is their better. There are mental dodges to this condition. Sports for example. People aren't threatened by their sports heros. They instead identify with them. As part of a tribe.

But in most other arenas, it's not comfortable to have to acknowledge that you're the loser in life.

And somehow, in this place and this time, this has translated into a skepticism about expertise itself. I think we have, in this skepticism, one partial explanation for the foisting of Trump upon us by the aggrieved.

In order to prove to themselves that talent, class, skill, experience, morality and expertise do not make a better person, and by extension, chief executive, they've saddled us with a fellow devoid of any semblance of those characteristics. The entire idea of meritocracy has been upended.

Truly, even the lowest of us is now equal to the highest.

Exactly how far does this disdain for expertise extend among the true believer?

Are large animal vets are just as good as a real doctor? If so, good luck with that valve replacement.

What about financial advice? We have our answer. Larry Kudlow's history degree is apparently better preparation than anything Harvard business school could provide.

We selected Trump for what is probably the most ethically, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually challenging job on earth. Because he was, arguably, a successful business person. Let's pretend we agree that he's a very sharp business person. So what? Politics is not business. That business experience is about as applicable as years spent in animal husbandry. But here we are.

Since he is so very smart at business, and since ethics and credentials no longer justify, would his supporters be comfortable letting him repair the brakes on their bikes? Treating their family's medical conditions? Those tasks aren't nearly as challenging as the job he now holds. Of course not. It's absurd to ask and even his most sincere supporters would blush to suggest otherwise.

So why is government service different? Why the disdain for that expertise? Just to feel better about their own failings? Is it spite? Nihilism? It's a puzzlement.

(Couple this extreme skeptical viewpoint with a dash of paranoia and we also arrive at the age old conviction that the elites are out to get us.
In it's most toxic form this degenerates into conspiracy theories; deep state, chemtrails, false flag, lizard people, seven seals, faked moon landing type ravings. The mind boggles at how these folks manage to dress themselves.)

for me and mine its the benchmarks that we use
we are happy, that's all that matters
all the rest ....well you must judge for yourself

raydawg wrote on 04/10/18 at 16:08:49:

Absolutely...

Absolute gibberish

..one partial explanation for the foisting of Trump upon us by the aggrieved. In order to prove to themselves that talent, class, skill, experience, morality and expertise do not make a better person, and by extension, chief executive, they've saddled us with a fellow devoid of any semblance of those characteristics. The entire idea of meritocracy has been upended.

This knuckle dragging, Roseanne watching resident of flyover country proundly pronounces that you are far better at composing an idiotic, out of touch diatribe than almost any other over educated, shallow East coaster I've seen in a long time. You're that dude Matt Damon's character in Good Will Hunting schools and then steals the girl from.

oldNslow wrote on 04/10/18 at 18:24:56:



That's like, your opinion man.

MShipley wrote on 04/11/18 at 12:30:13:


It is worse than a load of crap, this is the kind of ideal that was coming out of 1930 Nazi Germany.  I guess next you will be wanting to clone yourself and aborting all those "lesser" people. I can agree with you in one respect. This is the TRUE face of the Progressive movement.
[/quote]

LMAO - 1930's Germany?  Seriously?? (I'd love to see you try and explain that)

Talk about a load of crap!

You wouldn't know a progressive policy if it hit you over the head.

Take a look around you - this presidency and administration is a sham at best.  We've got paul ryan fleeing the sinking ship among dozens of others.

But yeah, the progressives are the bad guys...

Right.....

thumperclone wrote on 04/10/18 at 15:35:40:

for me and mine its the benchmarks that we use
we are happy, that's all that matters
all the rest ....well you must judge for yourself  

   Well that,
      and the number  42