Next week, we’ll have a big end-all-be-all discussion about the book, so all you really need to do for next week is read the conclusion and think about where you’re at!
This book wrapped faster than I expected — lots of footnotes in it, sneaky — so tomorrow, you’re going to get an email inviting you to vote on the next books! This is going to have more options than usual — I think seven or eight possible books — and that’ll help me figure out a schedule basically for the next four or five months to make it easier to plan around.
This week’s discussion is about the section The New Aristocracy.
In the first chapter, he talks about how the rich became fundamentally different than the rest, from mortality to family to where they live on the map. Does this coincide with your experience?
In the next chapter, he talks about how the new economy is composed of “in effect extractive industries, with the twist that they extract income not from natural wealth but rather from the human capital of the superordinate workers.” Do you buy that?
The third hammers home the idea that meritocracy inherently leads to inherited caste. What do you think?
It’s nice to find another mind who considers author’s intent. In an applicable tangent, I’m originally from Massachusetts, so I lean toward Elizabeth, but I’ll vote for the democratic leaning moose from Vermont if he wins the nod! It is difficult to pick up responders’ tone, sometimes, on these tread-so I’m just kidding. I felt the Bern in 2016, but I’m leaning toward Liz in 2020.
With the vote in Iowa looming my mind kept going back and forth between Sanders & Warren as I read these three chapters that I tended to mostly agree with the author. Though I'm leaning towards Sanders once again I believe that either would be a big step in the right direction in helping to fix these issues that the author has brought up. I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion and seeing what the author suggests should be done moving forward.
I agree with all of it. It’s certainly true that the rich are vastly different, not dealing with the same issues as everyone else (or, for common issues, they can afford to handle them differently). Labor has always been exploited, with “star performers” unwittingly being sucked dry. Other workers are viewed as exchangeable and discardable. That’s what meritocracy gets you.
Life of Dumpy and his traitor tots would prove the author correct in all assertions. Russia is a trailer park-that is not an exaggeration. Most Americans would be shocked if they saw it in person. Meritocracy and the resultant castes there would be a bit more Putin pie-shaped, but illustrates the wreath v workers comparison beautifully.
It’s nice to find another mind who considers author’s intent. In an applicable tangent, I’m originally from Massachusetts, so I lean toward Elizabeth, but I’ll vote for the democratic leaning moose from Vermont if he wins the nod! It is difficult to pick up responders’ tone, sometimes, on these tread-so I’m just kidding. I felt the Bern in 2016, but I’m leaning toward Liz in 2020.
With the vote in Iowa looming my mind kept going back and forth between Sanders & Warren as I read these three chapters that I tended to mostly agree with the author. Though I'm leaning towards Sanders once again I believe that either would be a big step in the right direction in helping to fix these issues that the author has brought up. I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion and seeing what the author suggests should be done moving forward.
I agree with all of it. It’s certainly true that the rich are vastly different, not dealing with the same issues as everyone else (or, for common issues, they can afford to handle them differently). Labor has always been exploited, with “star performers” unwittingly being sucked dry. Other workers are viewed as exchangeable and discardable. That’s what meritocracy gets you.
Walt, has the new Book List to vote on been sent out yet?
Life of Dumpy and his traitor tots would prove the author correct in all assertions. Russia is a trailer park-that is not an exaggeration. Most Americans would be shocked if they saw it in person. Meritocracy and the resultant castes there would be a bit more Putin pie-shaped, but illustrates the wreath v workers comparison beautifully.