[lbo-talk] "Anti-intellectualism

[// ravi]

On Dec 18, 2011, at 12:14 PM, c b wrote:
> ‎"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way
> through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion
> that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your
> knowledge.' " — Isaac Asimov

IMHO, the trouble with these sort of statements (usually uttered from science types) is that “your knowledge” is often a sort of preying on “my ignorance”. Nobody (ordinary citizens) understands why the banks had to be bailed out in great haste and without any serious penalties or regulation. But the “science” of economics and finance — across the acceptable political spectrum — told us it was absolutely necessary.

I think the Tea Party and OWS are, in part, motivated by the suspicion or resentment that “your knowledge” doesn’t entitle you to bypass “our democracy”.

	—ravi