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I think to see where he's coming from you've got to remember how unbelievably, staggeringly bad all the rest of our governance has gotten, largely though "democratic oversight" by the old school of experts. What would be really hard, but worth doing, is combining a much-needed replacement of elites with some kind of revival of Tocquevillian civic engagement and oversight, so that the new elites don't fall straight back into the high modernist trap.
A lot of disengagement stems from an “elite” that is active hostile to the local interests and norms of the broader population. To copy the first point:
I disagree with this. What would you have any elite class in society do? Withdraw to the margins of society and live in their own gated communities, leaving the bulk of people to fend for themselves?
I really don’t mind such a class of people, provided they’re actively working in my interests.
Really get to know the "local interests and norms of the broader population". Learn from them and align your and the public interests, or even do the hard work of persuasion and cajoling the public to follow you. I admit this is what Karp is doing and I at least respect him for wading into the fight. But to say "stop criticizing me" is just pathetic
Exactly, I'm not sure if Karp's best interest is with mine. At the very least, it's certainly making me feel reactance to what he's proposing.
There’s a very fine line between someone saying “stop criticizing me,” and “stop whining and complaining.” I won’t knock him for trying at least.
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