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This insight should be more commonly accepted. That said - just like in Science - the consensus among thoughtfully educated people is probably 'more correct'.

This insight should be more commonly accepted. That said - just like in Science - the consensus among thoughtfully educated people is probably 'more correct'. Where things can go wrong ... is when the systematic class is wrong, or where there is a value shift. Populism is a super example of this: educated business type see the world through economic lenses, and can't for a second understand how 'Brexit' could happen. Most people have an affinity for their culture and a few extra cents on off their pint (and massively more surpluses in the pockets of bankers) is not going to change their mind over it. Doctors are a funny bunch in this regard: all of them seem to me to be the most intelligent, boring folks! They have to be in a way extremely small-c conservative, very orthodox, there's no experimentation or zaniness with human bodies. The system, and frankly the work (years of total work, oversight, convention) keeps them in the mould. And frankly, they have no reason to try to go outside it either, once inside the mould, it's just too lucrative to leave.

dsfyu404ed 8y ago
>Populism is a super example of this: educated business type see the world through economic lenses, and can't for a second understand how 'Brexit' could happen. The same thing comes up whenever we talk about splitting states or cities/towns in the US. Some people are like "why would you want that, it's not in your economic interest" and the people who want whatever the split is to happen reply "we'd rather be poor and in control of ourselves"
- sonnyblarney 8y ago
  The fundamental difference is that states and towns generally are not ethnocentric. Nations usually are. Germany in the EU with open migration may possibly present an existential challenge to the nature of what Germany is in the long term. Some people don't care, some people want that, some are against it. Whereas making SF Bay area '1 city' would be a matter of pragmatism, not much more. Also - there's actually scant evidence that federalization is better for everyone in the long run, it depends a lot on many things. I actually believe the EEC with slightly better rules for movement would be fundamentally better than the EU - even in raw economic terms. But that Bay Area - with the right leadership - would be better off.

dsfyu404ed 8y ago

>Populism is a super example of this: educated business type see the world through economic lenses, and can't for a second understand how 'Brexit' could happen. The same thing comes up whenever we talk about splitting states or cities/towns in the US. Some people are like "why would you want that, it's not in your economic interest" and the people who want whatever the split is to happen reply "we'd rather be poor and in control of ourselves"

sonnyblarney 8y ago
The fundamental difference is that states and towns generally are not ethnocentric. Nations usually are. Germany in the EU with open migration may possibly present an existential challenge to the nature of what Germany is in the long term. Some people don't care, some people want that, some are against it. Whereas making SF Bay area '1 city' would be a matter of pragmatism, not much more. Also - there's actually scant evidence that federalization is better for everyone in the long run, it depends a lot on many things. I actually believe the EEC with slightly better rules for movement would be fundamentally better than the EU - even in raw economic terms. But that Bay Area - with the right leadership - would be better off.