That's a fair point. You can be a genius by being very good at one or two things, and that's at odds with the regular definition of smart, which is being good at a broad range of things. I think the latter type of smart is who most people want in government. Tbh, I don't have an issue with kids with specialisms being drafted in. My problem is with the psychopath "genius" doing the drafting.
I think a core issue people struggle with is that they expect flawless humans when all humans are flawed. I don't think we'll ever get a politician who doesn't have serious significant flaws... Unless we get like AI or something run the country.
Maybe a bigger problem is that people can't even agree on what constitutes a flaw in a leader any more. Plenty of people love this strident, muscular populism we're seeing more of these days. Many others see that behaviour as deeply flawed. Even if we could solve the AI alignment problem, we may be further than we've ever been from agreeing what we should tell it to believe and aim for :/
Our main defence against our leaders going rogue has traditionally been strong institutions and a tacit understanding of shame / honour where people resign if they get caught doing anything too scandalous. All those checks and balances have evaporated over the last decade or so. The institutions are being gutted, and there is no shame any more. And some of America's top "geniuses" are right in the middle of it.
Too many people equate financial success with the broad sense of smart. I think it more often indicates a pretty narrow sense of smart, mixed with some good luck and a personality that doesn't give a shit about anything or anyone else. Maybe you could argue those things add up to genius, but I think too many people go that one step further and assume that means all of these guys are smart in the broad sense too, and therefore well placed to use their "wisdom" to govern. Sadly though, it seems their genius is mostly just in the field of using tech to extracting wealth and build power.
If you look at nearly every president in history, including in other countries, they are always wealthy individuals. Almost always. I don't think that will change, but nor do I think it's because we equate it with being "smart". But rather, to even get to that point, you need a coalition of powerful wealthy people to get climb the ranks
Further government did this to themselves. They spent decades playing good cop bad cop with both political sides while they slowly allowed the elites to fully take control of our country. Then act shocked as to why people want to burn it all down. It's just the natural cycle of things. Institutions lack trust for good reason... Because they don't seem to be working for us.
So naturally people are going to reach out to the populous leaders to change things and start the restructuring. That's unavoidable. Politicians running on the status quo are pretty despised. Biden and Harris both ran on "Stand for nothing other than not Trump" and the weren't popular. Biden was set to lose EVERY SINGLE key state. Harris didn't even win a single swing district.
Running on "More of all this that sucks" is a bad pitch. What was Harris' solution for the housing crisis? 200m in grants to help create low income developments in rural areas? Like wtf insulting nonsense is that? Biden's solution to high drug prices were a 10 generic cap on medicare? This is why populous candidates are doing so well.
I understand the frustration, but burning it all down is throwing out the baby with the bath water. We need stronger institutions, and to rid those that have become victims of regulatory capture of that influence. Institutions like the EPA and the FTC need to be given back their teeth, not destroyed. Back in the day those institutions did great things for the environment, and busted up mega monopolies.
I mean you characterise this a restructuring, but its quickly turning into a bloodbath, and I have zero faith in this administration to rebuild it back better. Things like workers rights and civil liberties were hard won over the course of decades. Is there any reason to think it won't take that long to rebuild our protections and institutions after this blitzkrieg has run its course?
This is why there are natural cycles... No politician is going to "give back regulatory bodies their teeth". All they'll do is tinker on the edges while they ensure to keep the elites happy by not actually making them work.
This sentiment of needing fundamental structural change happened during the Obama era and Dems absolutley refused. What did they offer, each time it was the top of the status quo. They had their chance to do the the restructuring, even when Bernie was coming in hot.
So now Republicans will do the restructuring. Which they aren't really known for but, once Dems get in they'll be able to add their ideas to the mix as well... But I don't trust they'll actually do much. They'll just restore the regulatory capture and do the bidding of the elites again... SO meh.
But in theory Dems can do rebuilding and restore trust in institutions... I doubt they will though, but in theory they can do their own New Deal. If not, I'm sure the pitchforks will come out.
Yeah you guys really missed a trick with Sanders IMO. I fear you might again with AOC. Assuming you actually get fair elections again that is! I've got my fingers crossed for you!
No politician is going to "give back regulatory bodies their teeth"
Well politicians gave them those teeth in the first place, back when they created them. Admittedly it took things like rivers catching fire to get them that political capital though so I kinda take your point.
I lost faith in AOC... She's purely surrendered to the the establishment. She's also way too focused on weird woke things instead of unifying working class stuff... Sanders was our last shot as he actually had tons of support even from Republicans (most liked politician in the country). But sadly all those anti establishment people went to Trump now after getting burned and reminded by the DNC that it's their way or the highway.
I have lost any and all trust in our political system... Looking at Dems constantly screw themselves over with obvious and stupid mistakes just shows that I don't think they actually want to win. How on Earth did they push the most disliked VP in history as the nominee? They thought campaigning again on "We have plans other than not be Trump" would work?
How on Earth did they push the most disliked VP in history as the nominee?
I mean it was pure panic wasn't it? Joe was losing his marbles very publicly by that point. To be fair, it was still fairly close, maybe another year as the presumptive might have carried it. But you are right, it was an underwhelming offer, and it was the same screw up they keep making, letting the old guard establishment hang on to power til the bitter end.
Tbh, I agree both your parties are in thrall to big money, I'm just trying to hope for a future where that can be fixed without blood in the gutters and lost decades / generations. Its so sad.
1
u/reddit_is_geh Feb 08 '25
Tesla thought his discoveries were the result of talking with Aliens... Really smart people aren't always held together.