> there is a cult of ignorance in the united states, and there always has been. the strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge. i have a few ideas. > 1 anti-intellectualism has always been present in american culture, it's just become more prominent recently. > 2 everything about our education system has been hand crafted to produce dumb, uncurious workers. it's been this way since at least the early 1900's. > 3 before, only intelligent people could effectively spread their ideas. writing a book is not easy. writing a popular book is even harder. writing a popular book that makes your name and philosophy known in intellectual circles, thus furthering discussion around your ideas, is really fucking hard. now, any retard can host a podcast and get millions of fellow retards to watch. you can find someone to validate your stupid ideas no matter how nonsensical they are. > 4 the concept of "polite society" is breaking down. people no longer feel the need to keep certain things to themselves. in my opinion, in part due to the anonymity or pseudo-anonymity of online interactions. if you can openly insult people online, openly act in a rude and crass manner, you're eventually going to get used to doing that in general. just look at the difference in culture between the internet today and the internet of 20 years ago.
United States