Trickle Them Down, But Not Out
The thing about smart people is that they should know better, but alas, intelligence is not the same as wisdom. Not only do the mistakes of experts too short on vision—when they are not corrected—have the potential to do great and far-reaching damage, but they also undermine public confidence in the very notion of expertise. This is particularly so when expertise is wielded in defence of the rich and powerful as a cudgel against those laid low. As an academic, this lack of faith in “so-called experts” is painful to see as it plays out in the spread of dis-/misinformation, conspiracy theories, and anti-intellectualism writ large. But it is also an understandable impulse given the catastrophic failure of an economic ideology pushed by certain economic experts. Supply-side economics has shaped a broken system for the last half-century and has arguably done more to undermine the fabric of the American Dream than any policy framework of the past century.
Comments (3)
Great job
This one hits me hard, I thought I was safe when I read the first line, but then I read the last line and realised that our time here is fleeting. The clouds will still roll on in the long morrow. I love the sound of that ‘long morrow’ maybe it’s the o’s.
What a beautifully reflective question! It evokes a sense of timelessness and contemplation about our existence and the world beyond us. It's a poignant reminder of the transient nature of life and the enduring presence of nature.