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The Ivies are about reproducing their own power and influence, not about "merit". Merit plays a role in that, but accepting rich kids with influential parents,

The Ivies are about reproducing their own power and influence, not about "merit". Merit plays a role in that, but accepting rich kids with influential parents, even if the kid is a dumbass, still advances their goals by creating network effects with the parent. This is why they do bullshit like reject Chelsea Manning for a fellowship and accept Sean Spicer instead. They are laser focused on being a hub of establishment influence, not about being "right". This is why Brown just appointed Ashish Jha as their Dean of Public Health when he has demonstrably contributed to the deaths of many many people without resolving the pandemic. Why would you appoint a loser? Because he has an in with establishment power and did what they wanted.

TigeriusKirk 3y ago
Yes. As much as the idea of legacy admissions offends my personal sensibilities, they do in fact provide a good deal of value to the institutions and even some to the other students. Part of the reason Harvard is appealing is that you can rub shoulders with the establishment. For that to work, the children of the establishment have to be admitted. I don't like it, but it does make sense and add value that many are looking for.
MattRix 3y ago
What’s the problem with Ashish Jha? I’ve never heard of him (I’m Canadian), but just searched his named and found almost entirely people praising him (ex. this article from a week ago https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/21/ashish-jha-covid-pandemic-preparedness/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/21/ashish-jh...)
- tehjoker 3y ago
  That's kind of my point. This dude is a COVID minimizer and that's why he's been praised institutionally. He objectively failed at his job and helped move the US COVID response to the private market, so now the pandemic is invisible and few of the so-called "tools" are available to people.
LordDragonfang 3y ago
>Ashish Jha ... has demonstrably contributed to the deaths of many many people without resolving the pandemic Considering he was one of the early voices calling for the lockdown, which probably did save millions of lives (remember, flattening the curve helped prevent our medical system from being even more overwhelmed than it was), and the pandemic is functionally down to the same threat level as seasonal viruses, this is a pretty bad take.
- tehjoker 3y ago
  > pandemic is functionally down to the same threat level as seasonal viruses This is propaganda produced by the white house including Jha. The fatality rate when vaccinated is the same as the flu unvaccinated, assuming reasonable vaccine match (people aren't updating their vaccinations, so that will drift) or constant infections (long COVID). This view also omits the wild transmissibility of COVID vs flu, making is much worse even with the same IFR. Severity * number of people infected = impact. COVID reinfections can happen multiple times a year and have little relation to seasonality. Worse than flu. Most people expected to catch the flu once every few years (maybe once a decade). People are getting COVID at increasingly rapid rates. New data from Japan said reinfections are possible within 3 months. https://twitter.com/fitterhappierAJ/status/1672349756436127744 https://twitter.com/fitterhappierAJ/status/16723497564361277... This view also omits long COVID which the WHO said may affect 1 in 10 infections and could lead to hundreds of millions requiring long term care. https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1651227079684358151 https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1651227079684358151 Yes people are tired of the pandemic, but the messaging you have been given is designed to protect the economy. Obviously. Other people, rich people, making money off your deliberately constructed ignorance of the basic facts of our situation are making stacks. Jha helped do this and that's why he is celebrated by elites.

TigeriusKirk 3y ago

Yes. As much as the idea of legacy admissions offends my personal sensibilities, they do in fact provide a good deal of value to the institutions and even some to the other students. Part of the reason Harvard is appealing is that you can rub shoulders with the establishment. For that to work, the children of the establishment have to be admitted. I don't like it, but it does make sense and add value that many are looking for.

MattRix 3y ago

What’s the problem with Ashish Jha? I’ve never heard of him (I’m Canadian), but just searched his named and found almost entirely people praising him (ex. this article from a week ago https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/21/ashish-jha-covid-pandemic-preparedness/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/21/ashish-jh...)

tehjoker 3y ago
That's kind of my point. This dude is a COVID minimizer and that's why he's been praised institutionally. He objectively failed at his job and helped move the US COVID response to the private market, so now the pandemic is invisible and few of the so-called "tools" are available to people.

LordDragonfang 3y ago

>Ashish Jha ... has demonstrably contributed to the deaths of many many people without resolving the pandemic Considering he was one of the early voices calling for the lockdown, which probably did save millions of lives (remember, flattening the curve helped prevent our medical system from being even more overwhelmed than it was), and the pandemic is functionally down to the same threat level as seasonal viruses, this is a pretty bad take.

tehjoker 3y ago
> pandemic is functionally down to the same threat level as seasonal viruses This is propaganda produced by the white house including Jha. The fatality rate when vaccinated is the same as the flu unvaccinated, assuming reasonable vaccine match (people aren't updating their vaccinations, so that will drift) or constant infections (long COVID). This view also omits the wild transmissibility of COVID vs flu, making is much worse even with the same IFR. Severity * number of people infected = impact. COVID reinfections can happen multiple times a year and have little relation to seasonality. Worse than flu. Most people expected to catch the flu once every few years (maybe once a decade). People are getting COVID at increasingly rapid rates. New data from Japan said reinfections are possible within 3 months. https://twitter.com/fitterhappierAJ/status/1672349756436127744 https://twitter.com/fitterhappierAJ/status/16723497564361277... This view also omits long COVID which the WHO said may affect 1 in 10 infections and could lead to hundreds of millions requiring long term care. https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1651227079684358151 https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1651227079684358151 Yes people are tired of the pandemic, but the messaging you have been given is designed to protect the economy. Obviously. Other people, rich people, making money off your deliberately constructed ignorance of the basic facts of our situation are making stacks. Jha helped do this and that's why he is celebrated by elites.