Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Sheep ruled by donkeys?


“Lions led by Donkeys” One of the enduring images about World War One. Brave soldiers sent to their deaths by callous and stupid generals who remained safe and coddled in their chateau headquarters.

This myth is interesting on two counts. First, this image of the detached, unfeeling general pointlessly sacrificing his men's lives is false. But let's circle back to that.

One reason the myth persists is that we find it hard to sympathize with the “donkeys”., As Richard Holmes put it, the generals appear, to us, to be “comfortable, well-breakfasted, privileged, and remote”.

While that is unfair to FM Haig, et. al., the description fits our modern mandarins to a T. It seems completely fair to describe the US today as a nation of “sheep ruled by donkeys”.

The past year has been devastating to the nation: schools closed, students abandoned, senior citizens condemned to unending solitary confinement, the economy crushed, civil liberties shredded. All of this was done at the whim of bureaucrats and governors largely insulated from the consequences of the policies they inflict on the citizenry.

It's bad enough that policy is being made by people with many opinions but no skin in the game. Even worse, every day brings new examples of their arrogant refusal to live by the rules they impose on others.

Spring Breakdown: LA Teachers’ Union Tries to Hide Vacations Amid School Reopening Fight

Teachers union boss in California caught taking daughter to private school becomes poster boy for school choice

PA Health Secretary Moved Mother From Nursing Home to Hotel When Pandemic Hit State

Professor Lockdown Resigns After Breaking Own Lockdown Rules to Meet Lover: Report

Gov. J.B. Pritzker acknowledges family members have been in Florida and Wisconsin during coronavirus shutdown

Celebrities slammed for maskless appearances at Grammys: 'Elite still party while you lose your businesses'
Related:

This strikes close to home
Exhausting the resources of the country, they only bolstered the power of the state without elevating the self-confidence of the people.... The state swelled up; the people grew lean. “
And let's not forget the role journalists played in this disaster. Nearly every news outlet spread misinformation and promoted pandemic porn. But as the honchos at CNN happily admit it was good for ratings and hurt President Trump. So totally worth it.

This is a calculus that is only open to the comfortable and the privileged. Sadly,much of the legacy media has become the preserve of such people.

CNN Journo Complains $2,000 Peloton Wasn’t Delivered On Time

Journalist Mocked After $22 Avocado Toast Purchase Backfires: ‘Ultimate First World Complaint’



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