Posted on 11/15/2019 6:28:29 AM PST by poconopundit
One of the smartest and deepest thinkers alive today. Explains why no one pays much attention to him. His book changed my entire outlook, while deepening my understanding of how the universe was created to work.
Great to hear Taleb’s mind has had a big impact on you, trad.
Spent some time on this vanity because Taleb’s common sense insights are so powerful. Hope you agree.
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BTTT
Many thanks for your post.
In this country we have a very serious, and worsening, culture problem. Things like honor, personal standards, legal morality, accountability and equitable legal consequences are steadily eroding. The Founding Fathers would be very dismayed if they could see the state of the country today.
bump
My experience is that average folks are mostly honest, mostly fair, mostly reasonable.
It is the self-proclaimed “experts”, the agenda-driven “journalists”, the control freaks who run large organizations-they are the problem.
They do affect our lives, but most of us don’t have to deal with them on a personal level.
This is a great country—with 1% of the population of sociopaths and complete jerks.
Under the Schengen Agreement, Brussels promised to guard the outer frontiers of the EU, while abolishing internal border controls.
The Eurocrat Corporate elites lied = broke the first promise but kept the second, thus opening a wide path for the onrushing Muslim Hijrah immigration invasion...
Kickbacks to the Eurocrats from George Soros ?
I see a lot of what Our President has done since he has been in office, and an awful lot of what he used when he made his empire of golf courses, hotels around the world, how he talks to people, how he deals with people, his knowledge level, which in my opinion, is off the charts...
I am intrigued to learn more about this man, I like the ‘down to common folk level of talking’ so we ‘deplorables’ can understand what he is saying...
I have read a lot of this type of information in my life, how do other people operate, what motivates them, where do they get their ideas, what are their ‘end goals’, I want to know how things ‘tick’ and this guy is good in that area...just like Our President...
Thank you for this article, just right down my alley...
Great, HL. So pleased I could introduce a bit of this wise man to you.
What sounds Trumpian is probably that mixture of street smarts and skepticism about so-called Experts who are selling us out.
Both Trump and Taleb have New York financial savvy in their genes. And they truly care about the little guy, the entrepreneur, the tinkerers who rise their livelihood to make it — instead of the yes-man senior banker who sucks up to power and bears no risk on the downside.
Thanks for the post.
I like Taleb’s IYI (Intellectual Yet Idiot) description. It fits so well all the “educated” pompous asses in the NYT, Compost, NPR, NRO, etc., etc.
I also like his concept of the the “dictatorship of the intolerant minority”. It’s on display constantly these days.
1% of the population of sociopaths and complete jerks.
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That may be true with respect to real nutcases but its important to look at the broader picture. A significant percentage of people in this country are not the least bit bothered by widespread corruption, deteriorating national morality, or massively growing government control over our lives. Our decline is entirely OK with them.
Remember, the destructive and divisive Obama was twice elected president and a bevy of mad Democrats who are obsessed with overturning the last election now run the U.S. congress. The societal problems afflicting this country are much deeper than you suggest as evidenced by the rot in our politics.
And look at what’s happened to our government which is riddled with malfeasance, waste and fraud. Trump is trying his best to right the ship but the hull has been breached, the crew is drunk, and we’ve taken on a lot of water.
Average folks may be honest and reasonable but they are also becoming increasingly passive, easily distracted, and manipulated by slick political operatives and their allies in the media. The next election may well decide our fate.
The problem is that since average folks don’t encounter true evil sociopaths regularly, they are inclined to assume the best about people.
I don’t blame the sheep for being herded.
he is a very arrogant fluck (IMO)
Thinks he knows more about “important stuff” than anyone else.
A significant percentage of people in this country are not the least bit bothered by widespread corruption, deteriorating national morality, or massively growing government control over our lives. Our decline is entirely OK with them.
...
Average folks may be honest and reasonable but they are also becoming increasingly passive, easily distracted, and manipulated by slick political operatives and their allies in the media. The next election may well decide our fate.
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These are the people who really believe that government, bureaucrats and regulations will function to keep their lifestyle just as it is. For those with a less favorable situation, they have been convinced their circumstances will improve due to government, bureaucrats and regulations or even *laws* that attempt to regulate what they cannot, such as unfavorable circumstances.
The media is responsible for these beliefs. They have been purchased by the government, bureaucrats and regulators. For example, while we here know why Venezuela, Chile, Hong Kong, France and others are in rebellion, the media either refuses to report it or lies about both cause and effect.
None of those responsible have skin-in-the-game. Society needs to demand that those responsible pay with their own funds, freedom and lifestyle. Maybe with their lives.
Just expanding on your theme. Agree about Trump and the coming calamities.
Yes, arrogant and full of himself. I still enjoy reading him, I've read three of his books. I find myself quoting some of his examples fairly frequently. I think he is well worth the read.
I no longer remember if I said this, or someone else said it about him... he writes like a guy at the bar who has had one drink too many, and is on a rant... but its so interesting you keep buying him drinks and call your wife to say you'll be late for dinner.
Great post! Thanks!
Society needs to demand that those responsible pay with their own funds, freedom and lifestyle.
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There is no such thing as accountability in DC whatsoever which explains in large part why there is so much corruption and destructive partisanship. Since the public doesn’t seem to want to remove the rot I only see the problem getting worse.
One observation if I may...
People only change when they are forced to by pain, fear or hardship. In the absence of those factors, things tend to stay the same. If we have a sharp and painful economic downturn such a situation could well bring about some much needed reforms, at least temporarily. A sudden military confrontation would likewise also serve to reorient people’s assumptions and thinking. In the meantime we bumble along and tolerate an absurd amount of destructive nonsense.
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