Not that there's much here I disagree with, but why do most critics (a critic here myself) of comm/socialism seem to insist that no bad regimes existed before the 20th?
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If one is perplexed by the recent popularity of Marxism, as Niall seems to be, a study of pre-20th world history basically shows a 6000 year recurring theme of landed aristocrats tormenting the peasantry and underclass masses. We literally warred with Britain about this.
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Also, Niall refers to a couple of Sil Valley prodigies as evidence of a healthy social mobility, but most upper-class students tend to study humanities, while poorer students take STEM, yet vast wealth inequality still remains.
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The cause of inequality is not a bad educational system. Millennials (by far the most educated generation) will be the first American generation to be worse off than their parents. Rising levels of wealth in Africa and India mean little to young people living in the U.S.
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Sam I’m surprised you let so many questionable assertions go. The whole “counter factual” method? The false equivalence of Vietnam and drone strikes (which are terrible, but “levels”)? The idea that the social safety net is unsustainable (depends on priorities)?
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2: He sounds like an ideologue to me. Since you pride yourself on rational, honest analysis, I expected a bit more challenge - not hostility, but questioning and skepticism.
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It is difficult to give the third degree to your good friends. Although Sam has managed to pull it off with people like Fareed Zakaria. For some reason he tiptoed around Niall.
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@SamHarrisOrg@nfergus did no justice to Piketty & regurgitated discredited "leaky bucket" theory about government redistribution (check@OECD for + and -). Made up statistic about lower growth in 70s (not in US) + misleading statements on inherited wealth versus earned. -
That’s classic Niall Ferguson tbh.
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How can an honest historian or academic or even biographer answer the way Niall did in response to the Kissinger question? He was as disingenuous as any apologist. Sadly this brings his judgements into doubt. He didn't have to agree with the charges but all he gave was casuistry.
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The Kissinger defense was basically whataboutery and attacks on the motives of Kissinger’s critics as being motivated by hate for Nixon and antisemitism. Behind all of the bluster really a weak argument. I had expected more from a scholar.
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We should be cautious w/ the claim that the educational system is to blame for poor social mobility at the bottom. Education is obviously important and should be continually fine-tuned, but teachers cannot realistically be expected to overpower the influence of family, culture, e
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Further listening on impact of the printing press re Martin Luther.https://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardcore-history-48-prophets-of-doom/ …
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His view on Printing press is explained very well here by the great Stephen Fryhttps://youtu.be/8svE2AjQWYE
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The stunning notion from Niall is HRC admin yr 1 would be the same as DJT. Year one with trump is a disaster yet Niall glibly offers simply a glance at his crystal ball to tut tut reality. His sanguine view of trump is a joke. HRC was in PA 2 nights B4 election=Niall wrong.
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Found your guest to be very proud of occupying "the middle", as if indifference to Trump's vileness and serial dishonesty is a sophisticated stance.
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I found his Clinton Y1 counterfactual to be shallow and unpersuasive. upset voters? gridlock? trump is doing lasting damage to our planet, our relationships with the world, and our citizens
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Niall ignores HRC’s steady hand of leadership based on her history of studiously reviewing options which she’ll READ from a broad group of experts to deal with a crisis. Niall is sanguine as he banks on trump’s reckless uniformed whim. Panglossian BS Niall.
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Agreed. I'm surprised it sounded that reasonable to so many listeners (as judging from the twitter feed). Must be the magic of a british accent at work there...
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