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My social networks include a fair number of wealthy people. Some of their kids are dumb as rocks, and they don't have to improve themselves, ever. Those are th

My social networks include a fair number of wealthy people. Some of their kids are dumb as rocks, and they don't have to improve themselves, ever. Those are the real welfare queens. Sometimes a fool can be made a leader by other people in power. Believe me, I'm American.

danieltillett 11y ago
You might have noticed that I said the rich are smarter than in the past, but the ruling class are very clever. As you rightly point out there are plenty of dumb rich, but relatively few of these dumb rich are ruling. As for leaders who the figurehead is does not matter - ask yourself what do the rulers care more about; who is the POTUS or who is the head of the federal reserve.
- rm_-rf_slash 11y ago
  Are the ruling classes more clever, or has technology and globalization allowed average cleverness to be more impactful than in the past?
  - danieltillett 11y ago
    This is not an either or question :) The ruling class is both much clever than the past and technology and globalization has allowed their cleverness to result in more control. In regards the level of control I am most impressed at how subtly it is used. To be able to shift the the share of production from 75% masses / 25% rich to 50% masses / 50% rich in 40 years with barely a peep is truly breathtaking. They have even been able to convince a large section of the population that this is all the fault of people with brown skin.
    - rm_-rf_slash 11y ago
      This split is why I am not sold on why the rich or ruling classes are more clever than any other point in time, and not simply enabled by technology. I would like to see evidence of increased cleverness over time divorced from technological enabling.
      - danieltillett 11y ago
        Actually all professions are much more stratified by intelligence than in the past (this is side effect of meritocracy). There is lots of research on this - this is just the first paper I found on google [1]. In regards the rulers have a look at their educational background. In the roles that really matter they are all very clever. 1. https://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/daniel.nettle/britishjournalpsychology.pdf https://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/daniel.nettle/britishjournalpsyc...

danieltillett 11y ago

You might have noticed that I said the rich are smarter than in the past, but the ruling class are very clever. As you rightly point out there are plenty of dumb rich, but relatively few of these dumb rich are ruling. As for leaders who the figurehead is does not matter - ask yourself what do the rulers care more about; who is the POTUS or who is the head of the federal reserve.

rm_-rf_slash 11y ago
Are the ruling classes more clever, or has technology and globalization allowed average cleverness to be more impactful than in the past?
- danieltillett 11y ago
  This is not an either or question :) The ruling class is both much clever than the past and technology and globalization has allowed their cleverness to result in more control. In regards the level of control I am most impressed at how subtly it is used. To be able to shift the the share of production from 75% masses / 25% rich to 50% masses / 50% rich in 40 years with barely a peep is truly breathtaking. They have even been able to convince a large section of the population that this is all the fault of people with brown skin.
  - rm_-rf_slash 11y ago
    This split is why I am not sold on why the rich or ruling classes are more clever than any other point in time, and not simply enabled by technology. I would like to see evidence of increased cleverness over time divorced from technological enabling.
    - danieltillett 11y ago
      Actually all professions are much more stratified by intelligence than in the past (this is side effect of meritocracy). There is lots of research on this - this is just the first paper I found on google [1]. In regards the rulers have a look at their educational background. In the roles that really matter they are all very clever. 1. https://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/daniel.nettle/britishjournalpsychology.pdf https://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/daniel.nettle/britishjournalpsyc...