Lack of interest in the truth in solving social issues. Solutions are dogma; questioning them is lack of belief. Cannot seek measurement, accountability, or alternative solutions without being labeled an unbeliever. True of solutions for social housing, education, etc.
>> notable that these pool in the social sciences, not the hard sciences
Education inequality in US is far greater than wealth inequality in US
There is no passion for the truth.
Truth-seeking institutions were eroded by dogma (universities e.g. woke politics, institutions e.g. social solutions, corporations e.g. ESG gospel)
We must respect the dignity of individuals. Doing so includes giving them the best solutions we can, not just the solutions that push a preferred agenda.
I think all heretics I have known have been virtuous men. They have the virtue of courage, or they would not venture their heresy. They cannot afford to be deficient in other virtues due to the numerous enemies they provoke. -Ben Franklin
It is good to be offended.
We must permit being offended if we are to avoid cultural decline.
There are people who deserve more empathy. That should not be an excuse to embrace poor thinking or ineffective solutions.
What makes civilizations prosper?
- Classical virtues
- Strong families
https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/
Two explanations, that play off of each other
[1] Breaking from gold standard which over-financialized the economy
- More money around > more returns into finance > finance outperforms labor
[2] Tech driven globalization
- Money + tech force US labor to compete with global labor > reduces returns to labor
For the first time in generations it is now possible to build a new university and compete with the top universities
- There is now enormous intellectual satisfaction in entrepreneurship…this can combine with professorships
- Avoid individual departments being conquered by ideologies…keep interdisciplinary
- Goal to put pressure on other schools to change
- Professors fleeing universities due to e.g. censorship of debates (e.g. NYU law professor can no longer use Socratic method in class…must email all questions a week in advance to make sure she’s allowed to ask the questions in class…any questions considered a “trigger” cannot be asked.
- Yale has more administrators than students
The biggest divide in terms of political and ideological beliefs is whether or not you have a college degree.
- College degree > professional class > 1/3 of country > skews radical left > runs institutions
- No college degree > working class > 2/3 of country > skews moderate or right > majority of votes, but does not run institutions
Hence conflict > source of political strife
Parties are now in the process of resorting around this cultural and political divide. Democrats, historically party of working class, now shifting to party of elites. Vice versa for Republicans.