Less is More



Incredibly smart analysis of the economy and Obama. Watching this and catching Fareed Zakaria on tv this Sunday AM - lest we forget - we have really, really smart, capable people amongst us. America is a strange place in that it seems like we are incredibly wasteful and not operating at full capacity simultaneously. On the one hand, we over compensate in ridiculous ways by spending ungodly amounts of money on military and intelligence spending for what? To commit to a draw with a half baked force like the Taliban? On TSA security procedures? To pay billions in shit like unemployment and mortgage interest tax deductions and other totally unproductive programs?

On the flip side, I think we have incredible assets who are ought there thinking and understanding the world we live in and speaking plainly about it - and if we'd just listen - we'd probably get right back on track in no time. Instead, we're seduced by a bunch of know-nothing ideologues on both sides and get suckered into supporting the least worst solutions instead of something that could actually work.

His analysis of Obama is striking - he remembers him from UChicago and basically calls him out as being intellectually vague and protectionist. Unwilling to get into the trenches and test his ideas against other rigorous competing ideas - he stands aloof and apart and plays a game of "intellectual poker." This is a good lesson for anyone in any field - you got to get into the game and mix it up and challenge yourself. Otherwise, you get all weird are resort to narcissism and ego to uphold faulty ideas. We have a glamorous President, but he mistakenly thinks because he's smart, he must be right. A dangerous mistake.