Posted on 02/08/2017 12:57:16 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Interesting article. I liked this paragraph:
“I often say that a mathematician thinks in numbers, a lawyer in laws, and an idiot thinks in words. These words don’t amount to anything. I think you have to draw the conclusion that there is a global riot against pseudo-experts. I saw it with Brexit, and Nigel Farage [leader of the U.K. Independence Party], who was a trader for 15 years, said the problem with the government was that none of them had ever had a proper job. Being a bureaucrat is not a proper job. “
Not bad. Not bad at all.
I ran across his audiobook on youtube...if it is still there someone might want to put up a link?
This guy understands! My economic situation was made worse under Obama and no one had any sympathy for ME. My heart jumped for joy when Trump made his announcement to run for President. I knew he was the only candidate who could beat Hellacious Hillary who would continue Obama’s nightmare.
ping
His books are very worthwhile. He is the real deal.
agreed
I always say that every politician should come to my little enterprise and simply do two things
1) Do the weekly check run 3 times, decide which supplier gets paid when and which raw materials to bring in & when
2) Make payroll 2 times, sweat making payroll
They’d be utterly shocked at how tough decision making can really be with limited resources.
Sums up liberal/progressives in one small paragraph.
“The real problem is the faux-expert problem, one who doesn’t know what he doesn’t know, and assumes he knows what people think. An electrician doesn’t have that problem.”
Lol. That about sums up the MSM/Liberal elite problem.
And it won’t get fixed anytime soon.
Taleb is terrific. Thanks for posting.
I agree with all the previous posters - this guy looks like the Real Deal. But, having a life-long prejudice in favor of people who are good at math, I was particularly impressed with the very first sentence in the Article:
++++
Economist-mathematician Nassim Nicholas Taleb contends that there is a global riot against pseudo-experts.
++++
One would think that any “Economist” would naturally be a “Mathematician”. Sadly, ‘tis not so in general. With this smart fellow it just may be.
Bttt
Taleb is very good with numbers. And he is an expert at tearing people apart when they try to make numbers perform “tricks”.
Lying with Statistics? You cannot do it if Taleb is in the room. He’ll smash you.
I thought this was a brilliant, concise summary:
“Many smaller units of governance, and a collection of super islands with some separation, quick decision-making, and visible implementation.”
He packs a lot in there...and it’s all important. Every word.
“We just need someone at the top who doesn’t mess the system up.”
I remember a family gathering once where there was discussion of “who should run the country.” I said “the country was too complex. The only way some ONE could run the country was into the ground. So yes, that quote seems familiar.
President Reagan was very successful by doing LESS. Cutting taxes meant the government did less and people had more opportunity to run their own lives. Same with his de-regulation. If Betsy DeVos is able to provide more school choice, parents can do more and we can make American schools great again.
bmfl
I’ve said no one who has never had to defer their own paycheck to make payroll for the rest of the company should be placing taxes and regulation on business. And yes, I’ve BTDT.
I can’t think of anyone in the past 20 years who has challenged my thinking more than Taleb. Not just in the area of trading, but also in what is required for the good life. Many will have problems initially with his combination of mathematics, philosophy, and financial storytelling, but he’s really worth it if you can hang in to the end. “Antifragile” is quite simply amazing. I can’t wait for the next installment.
Bump for later.
There’s so much good here, it’s hard to pick one thing.
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