Once again you nailed it--stuck the landing! Thank you again for your thinking: It shouldn’t be a surprise that these two wealthy, white men who have felt threatened by so-called “wokeness” want to join forces and attack it. Yep. I have always been unable to trust Maher. At my age I have met enough types that I have an instinct for someone who’s an opportunist blowing smoke. I am right to not waste my time with Maher. Your writing on the other hand is worth my time. Thanks again
Maher is a racist, sexist Islamophobe and always was. I always saw him as a fake playing a role, and following whatever ideology he deemed the most popular. I never watched his show. I never trusted that arrogant phony Elon Musk, either. He's like Trump - stupid and dangerous.
Thanks for your important work and thanks for the book. I read it as soon as it came out. It’s so important to keep pointing out that the “power structure” is so connected. Big corporations, their corporate media, wealthy individuals, Republican politicians and a good number of Democrats too. Their goal is to preserve and protect the rigged economy that keeps them in power and living in the lap of luxury. They will all push back vigorously on any challenge to their privileged position. They feel their wealth will insulate them from the ravages of the Climate Crisis that threatens the habitability of the very planet we live on. As much as I try to sustain hope it is very hard to see how this ends well. My feeling is things have to get much worse before they get any better. 🌎🔥
I agree with you 100%. I still like to watch Bill Maher because it's important to have conversations with even most Disturbed of these "right wing" characters . It's a fine line between platforming them and having honest hard conversations. Maher was indeed shining the boots of Musk{great line!) But he also allows intelligent conversations with very influential and diverse opinions. So I will sit and fume watching for the pearls and dealing with him spending 90% of the time on walkers and 10% of the time on the authoritarian fascistic takeover of the world!
You are very, very welcome sir! And keep those books coming! As for Maher, if I had not quit him years ago because his I’m-so-much-more-intelligent-than-you shtick wore really thin, giving Musk a platform in the first place would have been a bridge way too far.
Great article. I’ve been wanting to hear this commentary about Maher for years now. Thanks for using your platform to help inform people about this gaslighting.
Keep up the good work and I’ll promote your work to others!
Until recently, I appreciated Bill Maher, despite not agreeing with some of his positions. He sure seems to have taken a new tone under new management, Discovery and its Libertarian leanings. Whitewashing Elon’s bad behavior and uncritically giving him a platform is unacceptable in this dangerous moment. As such, seems to me Maher is just another cog in this ugly machine barreling us towards autocracy.
Respectfully, I disagree on some of the other points here. Meritocracy is never achieved, it is a goal, a noble one that liberal systems in principle strive towards. But liberal systems are not perfectly fair, not by a long shot, and ours is very much corrupted today. Thats why its an American dream, a myth, and not an American reality. But as deeply imperfect and as corrupted as our liberalism is, it is so much better than the alternatives. Please never forget. We have a Golden Goose, even if it is not even close to living up to its legend.
The first step in achieving a meritocracy (if that's what you truly want) is to acknowledge we don't have one now. Not that we've "fallen short", like we're actually trying but just haven't got it yet, but that we just don't have it, period, because those in power don't really want it. They want their kids to have the same privileges they have, and more, and they know their own kids well enough to know they're not going to make it on pure merit.
Myself, not a big fan of meritocracy. I think people should have access to a decent life simply by virtue of being human, regardless of "merit." I also want to put in a word for just showing up and doing your damn job adequately, without constantly feeling you need to compete or strive for "excellence." Americans work too much, and work comprises way too big a share of our identities, and that's a consequence of the meritocracy myth too.
Thats the thing, meritocracy is not achievable. Its a utopian concept. Humans are imperfect and self interested. Eliminating all corruption, bad faith, self dealing, crime etc is noble, but unrealistic. Liberal systems strive towards meritocracy which is better than not striving for it imo.
Meritocracy isn’t laissez faire capitalism - it doesn’t prohibit social safety nets or some socialistic elements.
Meritocracy isn't an economic system, so "Meritocracy or Communism" isn't really a choice. For you, it seems to be a goal, I'd say it's more of a collection of attitudes about what's fair, whether certain people deserve the things they have, and about work generally, especially hiring, which I've already mentioned.
Since we're talking about Elon Musk and Bill Maher, I'll focus on the more toxic aspects of meritocracy, like the belief that some people are so meritorious, such geniuses, that they should be allowed to do and have whatever they want. You don't need Elon Musk for an example of such people, we've all had coworkers who believed they were so damn good at their jobs, such stars, that they felt justified in treating everyone around them like dogshit.
And then there's the way meritocracy is used to argue against any effort to increase diversity in the workplace, which is Maher's argument.
Here in the US, meritocracy seems to have reached the level of a secular religion, so even if we keep a capitalist system, we could still all afford to worship less at the feet of the God of Meritocracy.
But I'll add that I'm enough of a believer in meritocracy that I'm willing to tax all inheritances at 100%. Sound fair?
Cheers Steve. I disagree with you here but I’m sure we agree that today in the USA, wealth should be taxed and redistributed much more thoroughly today than it is.
And here's another place where the meritocracy myth does some damage: Suppose you're on a hiring committee, and you've been told the institution you work for has goals to increase minority representation in its workforce. But wait, does that mean we're not free to choose the BEST people? When the pool of applicants you're looking at includes at least 50 people who would be perfectly fine in the job, some would be even better than you'd expect from their record, and some will significantly underperform the image they put down on paper. Nevertheless, we must have THE BEST, who often just happens to be white and male, what a Goddamn coincidence.
Jared, this is the best thing I've read in a very long time. I look forward to reading The Midnight Kingdom. And I am so glad to make your online acquaintance.
It's funny! Bill Maher compliance that it's not him who has changed it's "the left" that has. He tells us in plain language exactly what you are saying. He has not changed! He goes where the ratings are. With Democrats and the White House and in marginal control of the Senate it stands to reason he has to go after liberals. What bothers me is he knows and once in a great while we'll mention that the problems on the right are so much heavier and actually evil. The threat of authoritarianism. He brags that he predicted that Donald Trump wouldn't leave the white house. I always really admired him for his sharp observations. He's a very smart guy. But he spends so much time attacking what to me seems like such a little problem in comparison to the authoritarian take over that is occurring. What a waste of valuable platform. Maybe I'm naive about the degree to which cancel culture on the left is occurring. But it certainly is easily matched on the right but with the power of the state behind it. You can't get more cancel culture than Ron DeSantis using everything he's got to silence detractors. Look at the lengths to which he's going to do so. And then just imagine that on a scale 1000 times worse. If Bill Maher would just put his attention to where the dangers are rather than beside tracked by what I consider to be minor issues. I'm not saying free speech on campus is a minor issue but it's canceled out. I guess that's my point and then you have authoritarianism and fascism on the right which has no equal on the left
Once again you nailed it--stuck the landing! Thank you again for your thinking: It shouldn’t be a surprise that these two wealthy, white men who have felt threatened by so-called “wokeness” want to join forces and attack it. Yep. I have always been unable to trust Maher. At my age I have met enough types that I have an instinct for someone who’s an opportunist blowing smoke. I am right to not waste my time with Maher. Your writing on the other hand is worth my time. Thanks again
Maher is a racist, sexist Islamophobe and always was. I always saw him as a fake playing a role, and following whatever ideology he deemed the most popular. I never watched his show. I never trusted that arrogant phony Elon Musk, either. He's like Trump - stupid and dangerous.
Thanks for your important work and thanks for the book. I read it as soon as it came out. It’s so important to keep pointing out that the “power structure” is so connected. Big corporations, their corporate media, wealthy individuals, Republican politicians and a good number of Democrats too. Their goal is to preserve and protect the rigged economy that keeps them in power and living in the lap of luxury. They will all push back vigorously on any challenge to their privileged position. They feel their wealth will insulate them from the ravages of the Climate Crisis that threatens the habitability of the very planet we live on. As much as I try to sustain hope it is very hard to see how this ends well. My feeling is things have to get much worse before they get any better. 🌎🔥
I agree with you 100%. I still like to watch Bill Maher because it's important to have conversations with even most Disturbed of these "right wing" characters . It's a fine line between platforming them and having honest hard conversations. Maher was indeed shining the boots of Musk{great line!) But he also allows intelligent conversations with very influential and diverse opinions. So I will sit and fume watching for the pearls and dealing with him spending 90% of the time on walkers and 10% of the time on the authoritarian fascistic takeover of the world!
Wokeism, not walkers! Uuuuuffff
You are very, very welcome sir! And keep those books coming! As for Maher, if I had not quit him years ago because his I’m-so-much-more-intelligent-than-you shtick wore really thin, giving Musk a platform in the first place would have been a bridge way too far.
Great article. I’ve been wanting to hear this commentary about Maher for years now. Thanks for using your platform to help inform people about this gaslighting.
Keep up the good work and I’ll promote your work to others!
Thanks for another thoughtful piece.
Until recently, I appreciated Bill Maher, despite not agreeing with some of his positions. He sure seems to have taken a new tone under new management, Discovery and its Libertarian leanings. Whitewashing Elon’s bad behavior and uncritically giving him a platform is unacceptable in this dangerous moment. As such, seems to me Maher is just another cog in this ugly machine barreling us towards autocracy.
Respectfully, I disagree on some of the other points here. Meritocracy is never achieved, it is a goal, a noble one that liberal systems in principle strive towards. But liberal systems are not perfectly fair, not by a long shot, and ours is very much corrupted today. Thats why its an American dream, a myth, and not an American reality. But as deeply imperfect and as corrupted as our liberalism is, it is so much better than the alternatives. Please never forget. We have a Golden Goose, even if it is not even close to living up to its legend.
I've had a hate-on for Maher ever since "Politically Incorrect".
I agree. Bill has become more and more dangerous with every episode. In my opinion, he is more dangerous than most blatant Right Wing commentators.
The first step in achieving a meritocracy (if that's what you truly want) is to acknowledge we don't have one now. Not that we've "fallen short", like we're actually trying but just haven't got it yet, but that we just don't have it, period, because those in power don't really want it. They want their kids to have the same privileges they have, and more, and they know their own kids well enough to know they're not going to make it on pure merit.
Myself, not a big fan of meritocracy. I think people should have access to a decent life simply by virtue of being human, regardless of "merit." I also want to put in a word for just showing up and doing your damn job adequately, without constantly feeling you need to compete or strive for "excellence." Americans work too much, and work comprises way too big a share of our identities, and that's a consequence of the meritocracy myth too.
Thats the thing, meritocracy is not achievable. Its a utopian concept. Humans are imperfect and self interested. Eliminating all corruption, bad faith, self dealing, crime etc is noble, but unrealistic. Liberal systems strive towards meritocracy which is better than not striving for it imo.
Meritocracy isn’t laissez faire capitalism - it doesn’t prohibit social safety nets or some socialistic elements.
Whats the alternative? Communism?
Meritocracy isn't an economic system, so "Meritocracy or Communism" isn't really a choice. For you, it seems to be a goal, I'd say it's more of a collection of attitudes about what's fair, whether certain people deserve the things they have, and about work generally, especially hiring, which I've already mentioned.
Since we're talking about Elon Musk and Bill Maher, I'll focus on the more toxic aspects of meritocracy, like the belief that some people are so meritorious, such geniuses, that they should be allowed to do and have whatever they want. You don't need Elon Musk for an example of such people, we've all had coworkers who believed they were so damn good at their jobs, such stars, that they felt justified in treating everyone around them like dogshit.
And then there's the way meritocracy is used to argue against any effort to increase diversity in the workplace, which is Maher's argument.
Here in the US, meritocracy seems to have reached the level of a secular religion, so even if we keep a capitalist system, we could still all afford to worship less at the feet of the God of Meritocracy.
But I'll add that I'm enough of a believer in meritocracy that I'm willing to tax all inheritances at 100%. Sound fair?
Cheers Steve. I disagree with you here but I’m sure we agree that today in the USA, wealth should be taxed and redistributed much more thoroughly today than it is.
And here's another place where the meritocracy myth does some damage: Suppose you're on a hiring committee, and you've been told the institution you work for has goals to increase minority representation in its workforce. But wait, does that mean we're not free to choose the BEST people? When the pool of applicants you're looking at includes at least 50 people who would be perfectly fine in the job, some would be even better than you'd expect from their record, and some will significantly underperform the image they put down on paper. Nevertheless, we must have THE BEST, who often just happens to be white and male, what a Goddamn coincidence.
Hell, if we're "revolutionaries" now, let's just cut to the part with the tumbrels and pitchforks.
We'd be unimaginably powerful if we weren't simultaneously so pathetically weak.
In my experience, the circle of rich, hypocritical, sociopathic "liberals" is quite small. YMMV.
Jared, this is the best thing I've read in a very long time. I look forward to reading The Midnight Kingdom. And I am so glad to make your online acquaintance.
Thank you.
It's funny! Bill Maher compliance that it's not him who has changed it's "the left" that has. He tells us in plain language exactly what you are saying. He has not changed! He goes where the ratings are. With Democrats and the White House and in marginal control of the Senate it stands to reason he has to go after liberals. What bothers me is he knows and once in a great while we'll mention that the problems on the right are so much heavier and actually evil. The threat of authoritarianism. He brags that he predicted that Donald Trump wouldn't leave the white house. I always really admired him for his sharp observations. He's a very smart guy. But he spends so much time attacking what to me seems like such a little problem in comparison to the authoritarian take over that is occurring. What a waste of valuable platform. Maybe I'm naive about the degree to which cancel culture on the left is occurring. But it certainly is easily matched on the right but with the power of the state behind it. You can't get more cancel culture than Ron DeSantis using everything he's got to silence detractors. Look at the lengths to which he's going to do so. And then just imagine that on a scale 1000 times worse. If Bill Maher would just put his attention to where the dangers are rather than beside tracked by what I consider to be minor issues. I'm not saying free speech on campus is a minor issue but it's canceled out. I guess that's my point and then you have authoritarianism and fascism on the right which has no equal on the left