Monday, January 11, 2010

Bringing the Smart

Via Neo-neocon, I've found a blog that is ground zero for smart. He writes clearly about an issue that I've stumbled towards but never summed up with such clarity - namely, the failure of the Intellectual Class. Sonic Charmer looks at the issue and brings the smart. And very smart it is, too:

An aspect of our political landscape that goes underreported is the role and influence of the faction I have taken to calling ‘Smart People’.

Even if you don’t know what I mean by that, you probably already instinctively know who I’m talking about. Smart People are the people for whom the most important thing of all is that politicians, leaders, bureaucrats, celebrities, etc. – basically anyone given a prominent public role in society – all be Smart. In addition, Smart People think that all those Smart People must be listened to and obeyed on every aspect of life, big and small, without constraint; in particular, listened to/obeyed by anyone who is not Smart. The driving motive behind how Smart People think and vote is to make sure that Smart People are in power, are respected, are given prominent and honorable roles in society, and have no constraints or limits on putting their Smart ideas into practice.

That's the opening, and the smart only grows from there. RTWT - highly, highly recommended.

UPDATE 12 January 2010 11:50: The Volgi over at The Gormogons linked with some very smart comments of his own.

4 comments:

  1. scotakuJanuary 11, 2010 at 11:52 AM

    "Smart" people like celebrities used to stick to the basics, like endorsing certain brands of cigarettes, and that's about as much water as their endorsement buckets could hold. Simpler days.

    Of course back then one could smoke or not without being chastised by the decision, too.

    I have *got* to turn my 'sentimental' knob down a few notches.

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  2. PaladinJanuary 11, 2010 at 7:18 PM

    I'll have to check out the link when I've got more reading time. This topic interests me as well.

    Especially the fact that its not enough to just be smart. You have to be the officially branded and trademarked variety of Smart People. You can be friggin' Einstein, but they won't accept your brand of smart unless is jibes with theirs.

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  3. BenJanuary 11, 2010 at 7:33 PM

    Well if you substitute "Educated" for "Smart" I agree.Most "educated" people seem to think if you don't have a degree then you don't count your opinion doesn't matter.Some of the smartest people I know are "uneducated".

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  4. LissaJanuary 12, 2010 at 6:47 AM

    Thanks for the link, BP! I liked the read, but dropped a comment about the necessity of including David Brooks and his love of perfectly creased pant legs :)

    ReplyDelete

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