Donald Trumps glorious victory for anti-intellectualism: Drain the swamp just meant the eggheads

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/2017/01/07/donald-trumps-glorious-victory-for-anti-intellectualism-drain-the-swamp-just-meant-the-eggheads/#.WHEp6zJsGJs.facebook

Saturday, Jan 7, 2017 06:00 AM EST
Donald Trump’s glorious victory for anti-intellectualism: “Drain the swamp” just meant the eggheads
For many Trump supporters, the wealthiest cabinet ever is no problem — as long as he gets rid of the smart people
Conor Lynch

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It has always been ironic that a country founded by Enlightenment philosophers and bookish intellectuals like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton has long been a hostile environment for intellectuals, who are widely distrusted by much of the populace, not least because they are often irreligious or skeptical of religion (as were many of the beloved founders).

So Trump’s anti-elitism is directed more at climate scientists (after all, everyone knows that scientists are atheists), smug technocrats with Ivy League degrees and left-wing intellectuals espousing politically correct nonsense, than at wealthy oil company executives like Rex Tillerson, predatory Wall Street bankers like Steve Mnuchin, and powerful real estate tycoons like, well, Donald J. Trump.

This is not to say that none of those who voted for Trump actually believed that he would take on special interests and Washington cronyism. Perhaps some of those voters will feel betrayed and will think twice before supporting Trump again. But a substantial number of people voted for Trump specifically because of his anti-intellectual style, and therefore won’t be too bummed that he has the wealthiest cabinet in history.

The anti-intellectual mentality values perceived practical qualities over theoretical ones, and tends to think of abstract thinking as close to useless. When Trump called out Washington technocrats as incompetent on the campaign trail, he was appealing to the anti-intellectual impulse that regards all highly educated people as impractical, incompetent eggheads. This naturally leads to the assumption that those who have achieved material success — i.e., wealthy businesspeople — are better equipped to run government with their practical, business-savvy skills and insights. Of course, history tells us the opposite: Businessmen have notoriously made very bad presidents, while most of the top-ranked presidents have been longtime public servants or lawyers with top-tier educations.

When Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president, less than two weeks from now, he will bring with him to Washington an administration full of economic elites and industry insiders, and D.C. cronyism will expand to a whole new level. But for many Americans, the fact that all those know-it-all intellectuals — especially the leading know-it-all, constitutional scholar President Barack Obama — will be thrown out is a victory worth celebrating.

[charlyvi]

1. This is scary

Since we know most dictatorial regimes begin with a purge of their intellectuals.....mustn't question anything! Hitler certainly did it, and Stalin did it as well. A couple of times. Scary stuff.

[Initech]

3. And Erdogan is doing it now.

If we want to see the path we're headed on, look no further than Turkey. Begun, the purge has.

[Initech]

2. And that's how we got to live in a reality where facts simply don't matter anymore.

The actual news has been replaced with talking points, AM hate radio, and conspiracy theories. Nobody wants the actual news anymore, they want Alex Jones and Breitbart to tell them how to think. It's going to get really scary after the inauguration.,

[a la izquierda]

4. Reason #1 that I will likely leave my university post and move to another country.

I can't take it here anymore.