Progressivism in a Nutshell
Diane Ellis ·
May 9, 2012 at 9:18pm
The wisdom of the ages? All bunk. It's high time old people today listened up to what the youth have to say. Because whoever said we need not reinvent the wheel was completely out of touch with how the world works today.
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Jun '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
Wise Chinese proverb: "To know the road ahead, ask someone coming back."
Experience often, but not always, turns knowledge into wisdom.
May '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
Yeah, we're defending a 200-year-old document against the mid-19th Century concept of Communism. What new does anyone offer? Are we waiting for the return of monarchy?
Aug '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
Fifteen or Fight! Fifteen or Fight! -- from the film Wild in the Streets
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
To be fair, some young people—particularly those who have endured extreme suffering and hardship—are extraordinarily wise beyond their years.
But this idea of a reverse-commencement is obtuse.
May '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
Because I'm pretty sure he Googles himself religiously:
Ezra Klein, you are the apotheosis of sophomoric.
Jun '11
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
Klein is such an appropriate name for this Big Little Man.
Jun '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
I think the Democrats tried that in 1972. It didn't work well...unless they were actually trying to reelect Nixon.
May '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
"Mom, Dad, can we turn up the heat, the concrete floor of the basement is awful cold...and can we get cable down here? My internet is so slow for my online video games." 28 year-old son with degree in non-Western Studies.
Nov '11
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
Considering that the 'elders' at commencement are po-mo college profs and ex-hippie baby-boomer parents, 'wisdom of the ages' is an exaggeration... the trouble is, in fact, that there is absolutely no youthful rebellion, the kids are happy to go along with precisely what their liberal profs and parents believe. Ezra's 'rebellious' speech would undoubtedly tell all the aging lefties exactly what they wanted to hear. But it would be considered brave nonetheless, whereas a truly rebellious speech, say about the murder of the unborn, is the sort of thing people like Ezra would loudly disrupt.
Nov '11
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
I love that movie sooo much!!!
Thanks for quoting it.
Aug '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
"A culture that believes it has more to learn from the young than to teach them is dying. " - Mona Charen
Aug '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
I'm partial to randomocracy. Put every social security number into a big hat, pick 435 and there's your House of Representatives. Pick two from each state, and there's your Senate. Failure to serve when your number is chosen is punishable by catapult.
Apr '12
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
For a pretty good idea of the kind of hogwash that the young would offer up, Google Hillary Rodham's valedictory speech to the Wellesley graduates. I dare you.
Mar '11
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
The problem becomes there is a small % of young people who in specific subjects are extermly wise. We should always accept wisdom and a sound argument regardless of the age of the person. Yes there is an extremely high correlation between the most wise and old age but it is a principle not a law.
I had a few friends who were extremely wise about life and where quite articulate in late teens/early 20's. In the end it did not matter that they were right. They did not get respect because all people saw was their age.
However, in Politics & human nature I have never know a young person who would be among the wisest. On occasion, above average, one or two who have suffered a lot and were well above average. So in this case almost a law is fairly close. That is too much reliance on stereotypes when you deal with specific people will always get you into trouble.
However, when one hears liberals talk about listening to young people, they always stereotype and group young people into one category, therefore they are morons in their statement.
Edited on May 9, 2012 at 10:53pmApr '11
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
I wonder if Ezra's read Liberal Fascism. It's a shame Jonah's so busy with his current book, as this is more or less a perfect example of his thesis that liberals today still adopt much of the Fascist/ Jacobin philosophy, with a particular focus on the cult of youth. Everything stupid is new again.
Mar '11
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
I see merit in the idea but not in the fashion Klein does (by the way not all us Klein's are "little" minded). Imagine a newly minted graduate chiding his or hers wise burned out hippy elders for the mountains of debt and oceans of unfunded entitlements his peers will be paying for.Be careful what you wish for, Ezra.
May '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
"To all you elders, I say this: as you peruse various media outlets, you may happen upon a little man known as Ezra Klein. Ignore him."
Nov '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
You said obtuse.
Dec '11
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
I was going to post something serious but thought better of it. there is no value in engagement.
Edited on May 10, 2012 at 12:27amSep '10
Re: Progressivism in a Nutshell
Misthiocracy
Failure to serve when your number is chosen is punishable by catapult. · 2 hours ago
Would you be shot out of the catapult, or would something be shot at you with the catapult?