Bloomberg Predicts Riots In The Streets

[Starbuck]

Is it your opinion that those who rise to the top of a corporate or military structure are the best and the brightest people, the people of the highest character and most solid morals, the most deserving?..........

Didn't ask me, but, yeah, that's what I think, generally. That population is peppered with the odd sociopath, but generally the best and brightest rise. Sociopaths like Bernie Ebbers, Madoff, Leona Helmsley eventually fall to the bottom. System works pretty well, it seems to me.

How else could it be?

[CueSi]

The ruling class isn't on Wall Street, it's on K Street.

and the sooner the left admits it, and the right acts on it, the better off we all will be.

~QC

[txradioguy]

Is it your opinion that those who rise to the top of a corporate or military structure are the best and the brightest people, the people of the highest character and most solid morals, the most deserving?

Or is there another path?

Well there's affirmative action...but that never works out well for anyone.

[Novaheart]

Well there's affirmative action...but that never works out well for anyone.

There is also inheritance and the "golden boy", and those are rarely merit systems either.

[AmPat]

There is also inheritance and the "golden boy", and those are rarely merit systems either.

How do you feel about those filthy rich "poor" people who win the lotto? I wonder when they have enough money that they are voted off the Liberal Island?

[Wei Wu Wei]

The ruling class isn't on Wall Street, it's on K Street.

False dichotomy. Both of those sing to the same tune.

[Wei Wu Wei]

Didn't ask me, but, yeah, that's what I think, generally. That population is peppered with the odd sociopath, but generally the best and brightest rise. Sociopaths like Bernie Ebbers, Madoff, Leona Helmsley eventually fall to the bottom. System works pretty well, it seems to me.

How else could it be?

the system creates the criteria by which we define the "best and brightest", which is self-serving, so that the people at the top always appear to be the "best and brightest".

every social system in history has legitimized it's power structure this way.

[Odysseus]

False dichotomy. Both of those sing to the same tune.

No, there's a significant difference between people who produce goods and services and people who seek advantage through manipulation of government.

the system creates the criteria by which we define the "best and brightest", which is self-serving, so that the people at the top always appear to be the "best and brightest".

every social system in history has legitimized it's power structure this way.

But every system has a different criteria of what it considers its best and brightest. America's used to be accomplishment in the private sector or in service to the nation. Today, it's about punching your ticket at the "right" schools and then filling your resume in government jobs, even if you don't actually accomplish anything.

[Starbuck]

the system creates the criteria by which we define the "best and brightest", which is self-serving, so that the people at the top always appear to be the "best and brightest".

every social system in history has legitimized it's power structure this way.

But I ask again, how else could it be?

In some systems there is a ruling class, some have a violent take over, and some - in the past - have turned management over to intellectuals. They have all failed. Haven't they?

In spite of faults it still appears to me that the America republic system works best.

[lacarnut]

There is also inheritance and the "golden boy", and those are rarely merit systems either.

The US is the land of opportunity. If you do not think so, what country does. Problem with bottom feeders who have no ambition and don't want to work hard, they will remain bottom feeders and never rise to the top.

People that have a sizable inheritance have already paid taxes on that money. Why should the government have a right to any of it. Oh, that's right, you are a liberal who believes that the government needs to steal from the haves and give to the have nots.