"all but rooting for each other to die" is an understatement. On Facebook I have repeatedly seen open expressions of "it serves them right" in regard to people infected by COVID at Trump rallies or unvaccinated people becoming infected. The vaccine hesitant are being called terrorists. The level of irrational vitriol from people who regard themselves as liberals and as rational people has me disgusted and appalled.
There is a lesson in humility that people should learn but won't. I would have had the same blind spot in my makeup if it weren't for the fact that my dad left when I was 10 and my stepfather came into the picture; a much older guy who had a certain contempt for book learning in the absence of practical skill. The way he put it was, "You're book smart. I'm going to make you street smart." While he had his blind spots, as everyone does, he had a valuable lesson to teach, which was that however bright I thought I was, there were people without the communication skills I had who had wisdom I did not possess.
While this doesn't mean every Tom, Dick and Harry (particularly those with outlandish conspiracy theories, which I hear a lot) has a valid point, assuming because of education or other class markers that someone doesn't have a valid point is a hubris that I find contemptible.
Reminds me of volunteering for the talking newspaper for the blind in Falkirk. You need articles read out by a Scotsman? Americans love the accent. Laughing.
Matt - thank you, thank you, thank you - this will make having contact with your content, sooo much easier - any chance you would do a retrospective on past articles? :-)
Critics of Sandel’s book often say that the problem with our meritocracy is that it is insufficiently fair: in other words, the problem is that we are not meritocratic enough. But his point is that meritocracy is, in itself, inherently a bad idea. He is right. That his point is hard to see is a measure of how in the grip we are by myths of merit.
"all but rooting for each other to die" is an understatement. On Facebook I have repeatedly seen open expressions of "it serves them right" in regard to people infected by COVID at Trump rallies or unvaccinated people becoming infected. The vaccine hesitant are being called terrorists. The level of irrational vitriol from people who regard themselves as liberals and as rational people has me disgusted and appalled.
Thanks for doing this. I appreciate having an audio version of some of these.
There is a lesson in humility that people should learn but won't. I would have had the same blind spot in my makeup if it weren't for the fact that my dad left when I was 10 and my stepfather came into the picture; a much older guy who had a certain contempt for book learning in the absence of practical skill. The way he put it was, "You're book smart. I'm going to make you street smart." While he had his blind spots, as everyone does, he had a valuable lesson to teach, which was that however bright I thought I was, there were people without the communication skills I had who had wisdom I did not possess.
While this doesn't mean every Tom, Dick and Harry (particularly those with outlandish conspiracy theories, which I hear a lot) has a valid point, assuming because of education or other class markers that someone doesn't have a valid point is a hubris that I find contemptible.
Love your narration. Honestly I think it's better when the author reads their own work. :)
Reminds me of volunteering for the talking newspaper for the blind in Falkirk. You need articles read out by a Scotsman? Americans love the accent. Laughing.
I had read the text, but I enjoyed listening. You read well, Matt. Thanks.
Recommend a pop filter. You're using a good mic, it's picking up breath sounds.
Thank you. I appreciate the audio format.
Matt, was wishing for your audio, and prefer YOUR voice! Very nicely done!
Matt - thank you, thank you, thank you - this will make having contact with your content, sooo much easier - any chance you would do a retrospective on past articles? :-)
Critics of Sandel’s book often say that the problem with our meritocracy is that it is insufficiently fair: in other words, the problem is that we are not meritocratic enough. But his point is that meritocracy is, in itself, inherently a bad idea. He is right. That his point is hard to see is a measure of how in the grip we are by myths of merit.
Biden does not care about human life. M4A would have saved 200,000 lives.
Good one. Of course there are people like me with an advanced degree who still never "made" it and don't identify with the upper crust Dem policies.
Thank you for doing audio! ( your voice is great, just need to soften your P's Ask Brie about her mic cover)
Thanks so much for doing audio versions of articles!
This is great! I can listen to you on those lo-o-o-ong car rides!!!! 😊