3 ms·
My view is that the problem isn't "lapsed physicists". They are largely still productive and contributing elites. The problem is the "pseudo elite" masters of
by greenail 5y ago
My view is that the problem isn't "lapsed physicists". They are largely still productive and contributing elites. The problem is the "pseudo elite" masters of sociology graduate who ends up at starbucks with a ton of debt and a chip on their shoulder. The incentives are "college is good" without regard for the demand for the degree. While I agree that "college is good", it clearly isn't a good investment for everyone. Most current policy de-emphasizes other ways of learning like apprenticeships which may actually be well suited for technical things. It may be the better description is "pseudo elite overproduction" will cause social and political instability.
- xyzelement 5y agoI think this is it, and matches my recall of the original theory. The sociology graduate working at Starbucks perceives himself elite ("much smarter than the Trump-voting plumber who didn't go to college") but in reality lives in poverty because there's a demand mismatch for his eliteness. This kind of dynamic adds to instability because such people are downwardly mobile (poorer than their parents) and rather than recognizing the key error that sent their life down the wrong track (choice of major/not going to a trade school) they "plant the seeds" of discord by shouting loudly that the situation is hopeless and "the system" is to blame.