Eye-opening NYTimes article on the rise of Trump and populism

[kylan11]

Just wanted to share this as I thought it might be of interest as it was for me. Especially considering that Leo, like me and so many others, has taken a special interest in the phenomenon of Trumpism and the rise of right-wing populism around the civilized world.

Opinion | On Anti-Trumpers and the Modern Meritocracy - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Maybe, just maybe, when we straw man the rise of trumpism as a fundamental issue between progress and bigotry (as the intellectual left does), we are completely overlooking the elitist society that we have, perhaps unconsciously, constructed. We might have brought this madness upon ourselves.

It's especially ironic to me that I find myself in complete agreement, and yet due to survivalistic self-interest most of my mid-20s life efforts are basically a struggle to gain entry to that same professional elite. Perhaps I am there already, if "cultural capital" and higher education are the conditions.

I'm not entirely convinced that there is a solution to this problem. If anything I suspect it might get worse now that white collar jobs are threatened by AI as well. I'd like to hear your opinion on this.

Edited December 24, 2023 by kylan11

[BlueOak]

Nothing ever goes away. It goes somewhere else.

Every time a liberal dismisses a populist, ridicules a socialist warning, and stamps upon popular concerns, those popular concerns look elsewhere to find a voice or expression.

Edited December 24, 2023 by BlueOak

[Devin]

2 hours ago, kylan11 said:

Just wanted to share this as I thought it might be of interest as it was for me. Especially considering that Leo, like me and so many others, has taken a special interest in the phenomenon of Trumpism and the rise of right-wing populism around the civilized world.

Opinion | On Anti-Trumpers and the Modern Meritocracy - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Maybe, just maybe, when we straw man the rise of trumpism as a fundamental issue between progress and bigotry (as the intellectual left does), we are completely overlooking the elitist society that we have, perhaps unconsciously, constructed. We might have brought this madness upon ourselves.

It's especially ironic to me that I find myself in complete agreement, and yet due to survivalistic self-interest most of my mid-20s life efforts are basically a struggle to gain entry to that same professional elite. Perhaps I am there already, if "cultural capital" and higher education are the conditions.

I'm not entirely convinced that there is a solution to this problem. If anything I suspect it might get worse now that white collar jobs are threatened by AI as well. I'd like to hear your opinion on this.

I disagree, progress always happens along with many people kicking and screaming not wanting change, people are lazy and greedy, it's just that everyone is more heard now than ever. Modern progressives are not exclusive or formulating a caste system, there's more mobility than ever in our system and not only with the lowest resistance we've had for it, but also the most assistance, all while the working class lives better than eighteenth century kings. There's a reason they don't take the gold paved road to upward mobility, and it's the same previously mentioned lazy greed.

Conservatism is just lazy greed based, i.e. the bad guys.

Edited December 24, 2023 by Devin