What I get out of this is a sincere position that “we’re good and you’re bad and we’re smart and you’re dumb and not going to college is great if you agree with me, but if you don’t agree with me, that’s evidence you’re an idiot.”
It’s very weird because they’ll argue whatever they argue because it’s convenient. Either Trump is good because he’s a credentialed elite, or he’s good because he trusts his gut and common sense over intellectualism.
There is no part of this argument that I think is authentic, objectively applied or made in good faith, and actually, I’m not even sure he presents a cohesive argument in his own words here.
It feels weird because its targeted at herd animals. The herd animal derives its sense of safety in an unpredictable universe, from the most dominant signaler around they can find. The signal will bounce off or feel manipulative for those who don't need it.
Trump extremely clearly got in as a nepo kid, so I'd discard him in this argument.
Personally, I find PT's argument sincere that good colleges do measure something important -- even if you disagree with his takes and arguments. I agree with you that his point lost cohesiveness when Bari asked him. He prevaricated -- to a random point on Democrats -- when asked because he didn't want to spell out "Yes, actually, prestige does matter a lot." Something that most, including the hosts of this great blog, agree on tacitly.
techblueberry|4 months ago
It’s very weird because they’ll argue whatever they argue because it’s convenient. Either Trump is good because he’s a credentialed elite, or he’s good because he trusts his gut and common sense over intellectualism.
There is no part of this argument that I think is authentic, objectively applied or made in good faith, and actually, I’m not even sure he presents a cohesive argument in his own words here.
pols45|4 months ago
copacopab|4 months ago
Personally, I find PT's argument sincere that good colleges do measure something important -- even if you disagree with his takes and arguments. I agree with you that his point lost cohesiveness when Bari asked him. He prevaricated -- to a random point on Democrats -- when asked because he didn't want to spell out "Yes, actually, prestige does matter a lot." Something that most, including the hosts of this great blog, agree on tacitly.