It seems the impact of Brexit followed by Trump [= “Amer-exit” ?] is stirring up a sharp reaction in global halls of power, leading for instance to resort to a loaded, one-word, barbed dismissal of the presumed ignorant, stupid, insane or wicked masses:
U/D: Let’s add a clip on the wave of upcoming elections in Europe:
Thus, we see in the just linked and clipped Bloomberg report:
>>The rise of populism in developed nations is tearing at the political fabric of Europe, unsettling markets and undermining growth prospects, top European bankers said in Frankfurt on Friday.
“The uncertainty in the market, especially the political and economic instability, has never been as pronounced as it is today,’’ Commerzbank AG Martin Zielke said at the annual European Banking Congress. “We don’t want to go down the path of nationalism.’’
Britain’s vote to leave the European Union and Donald Trump’s surprise victory in the U.S. presidential elections have fueled concerns that nationalism and populism are gaining a dimension that may turn anti-EU parties into a dominant force across the continent. The Dec. 4 constitutional referendum in Italy and elections in France and Germany next year will be a measure of how destabilizing the surge may be, the bankers said.>>
Of course, some context-aware decoding is — regrettably — in order: for “populism” read demagoguery, and for “nationalism” read national socialism, aka [neo-]nazism, with outbreaks of “racism” or “sexism” carrying much the same import. (Especially, where a crowd of ordinary, casually dressed Americans standing with hands over hearts is likely to be for singing the US National Anthem U/D: or saying the national pledge]. The “optics” chosen for the voice-over definition by a Bloomberg journalist with an Australian accent is highly, and not favourably, suggestive.)
Pardon, but the point of democratic elections — starting with the classic twelve-member jury of peers — is that, often, the collective wisdom of ordinary people is a pivotal check on the power of elites and their manipulative agendas. Yes, such elections may not be pretty or genteel, but on average they are better than the alternative, unchecked elites that are too often self-selecting and ideologically blinded to the painful realities of the ordinary person.
Likewise, patriotism is a virtue not a vice.
Nor, should it be implicitly easily equated to or cast as being on a slippery slope leading to the follies of nazism or racism or the like (whether using coded language or using outright accusations); that is a manifestation of stunning, utterly revealing disrespect and prejudice.
In the UK, it is largely Labour strongholds that delivered Brexit. In the US, many of the same rust belt states that backed Obama picked Trump over Clinton in a forced choice of the lesser danger of by and large un-liked, high-risk candidates. In both cases a slap in the face was delivered to the elites and their favoured agendas.
A wise path would be to reflect on needed reforms.
Not, doubling down on contempt for the ordinary man.
As to economic woes, I suggest the Bankers — should that, per tit for tat, be: “banksters” (See how it hurts? Please drop the name-calling and dog-whistle Newspeak hints) — would be well advised to ponder an Austrian perspective on policy manipulation led, financially induced malinvestment bubble-based booms that have shattering impacts when they go bust:
That is:
(It is no surprise that the world economy has struggled since 2007 – 9, given malinvestment bubbles that popped. To pull us out of an obvious generational, long wave trough, we need a cluster of breakthrough technologies that are probably likely to be stifled or hobbled by unchecked, over-zealous bureaucrats who almost always imply omniscience and omni-benevolence on their part., ICTs, Energy, biotech, robotics and mechatronics etc., are possible candidates.)
However, there are underlying themes of quite direct relevance to the focal concerns of the ID community.
First, there is the problem of domineering, agenda-driven elites who often despise and seek to manipulate the public.
Linked, there is the problem of mainstream media houses and leading voices that too often serve as the propaganda arm of the elites.
We see the pattern of trolls and agit-prop activists that haunt alternative media in an attempt to taint, divert, confuse and frustrate serious discussion of alternatives.
There is a worrying underlying sense that evolutionary materialism is sapping respect for and recognition of the pivotal importance of responsible rational freedom in serious discussions.
There seems to be an underlying perception that those who do not toe the party-line are ignorant, stupid, insane and/or wicked.
The utter bigotry in that sort of sneering contempt seems to escape the attention of far too many.
The haunting question of Internet censorship is rearing its ugly head.
The overlap of elite groups, interests and institutions is not to be overlooked.
The degree of ruthlessness already seen is not to be overlooked also.
Where, no, design thought is not a mere manifestation of populist stupidity and resentment at the intellectual achievements of our betters.
And, more.
We are in a clearly dangerous time, and should proceed with caution:
But, are we willing to heed warning signs, given:
There is reason to be deeply concerned.
Ideas and dominating ideologies have consequences. END