I’m honored you read my silly comments, much less remember them, Professor Graboyes. Thank you. Your illustration is perfect!
The political quotations at the end of your piece are excellent! I’m going to have to commit some to memory, especially the one from Mme. Calment. As I work my way through one of the books you recommended , _The True Believer_ , I find myself underlining Eric Hoffer’s words with increasing frequency and marveling at how apt they are 70 years later.
Thank you for the link to the Tom Lehrer song. It was the first time I heard it and I loved it. It will go in my “Always Look On the Bright Side of Life” playlist!
On the topic of political despair, I confess to wallowing in it from time to time, even allowing uncharitable wishes regarding the candidates’ well-being to creep in, but I comfort myself with the knowledge that I’m likely to be gone in 20 to 30 years, so maybe I shouldn’t sweat it. Of course, there’s always Mme. Calment. . . .
Thanks so much for sharing it! I saw on Twitter/X that a couple of people have used the expression in years past. But, as it says in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun.
I first posted it in 2016, then again in 2019 (little robot guy offering his detached brain on a plate). I see lots of others think along the same lines. Warped minds think alike or something. . . ; )
"Kakistocracy" - what a perfect word! New to me, but now permanently added to my vocabulary and so fitting to current political affairs. As I heard expressed by a wit on TV (cannot think who), we are faced with a choice between a candidate who is not senile but under indictment, and a candidate who is too senile to be indicted.
I learned the word "kakistocracy" back in 2008. It aptly describes the Indian political scene. I used it for the first time in a blog post in February 2008 -- Of Kakistocracies, Principals, and Agents. On searching my blog, I see there are 36 posts where the word appears: https://deeshaa.org/?s=kakistocracy
The Anything You Are For, I'm Against It, Inverse Rule: Whoever your would-be elite tell you that you can't vote for, or will not be permitted to vote for, that is who you should choose.
Not even that is a reliable rule. Democrats, the press, and bien-pensants don’t want me to vote for Cornel West; nevertheless West is a viper and I’m not voting for him.
Herman Wouk used the U.S.S. Caine to symbolize the United States: “designed by geniuses to be operated by idiots.” Unfortunately, in the case of the United States, redesigned (during the Progressive Era) by idiots to be operated by geniuses.
First of all is the requirement by law that political parties select their candidates by primary elections among whoever will “register” (with a public official) alignment with a party. What right has the state to tell a party how to select its nominees? And look at the consequences! The most extreme wins. This was less disastrous before the social media age, but there was never any excuse for it.
A side effect is the routine making public of the political affiliation—and exposing to trouble—of all those who take part in this decision process. Think about what “doxing” entails for those without private security.
Given time and space, I could go through the other “reforms” of the era—some of which, like this one, have, if not something to recommend them, then at least something objectionable they were trying to address. Taken together, they certainly caused the Great Depression, the rise of the administrative state, and many other disasters; and may yet doom the Republic.
In Virginia, the disenfranchisement of black voters and poorer white voters resulted from the 1902 Constitution, which was passed with great progressive hoopla. The goal was a more educated, enlightened electorate. And monstrous though it was, I think they believed the crap that they said.
About the etymology of kakistocracy. I assume everyone knows the etymology of -ocracy. The prefix comes from Proto—Indo—European kakka-, “to defecate.” According to Calvert Watkins, American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots, “imitative of glottal closure during defecation.” I suppose he would know.
If you make a bad deal, contact law exists to let you out of your contract. If contract law existed to hold you to your contract, it would be maybe a page long and employ maybe three dozen full-time-equivalent lawyers for the whole country.
Does Blahous’ Third Law suggest that presidents favor free speech more, or disfavor it less, than do Congresses? Free press? Free exercise of religion? The writ of habeas corpus?
Is that really image you want, as opposed to “a garden of cynicism”? A garden •path• leads somewhere, and “down the garden path” leads us to think somewhere surprisingly unpleasant. If that is what you mean, then where do you see all this cynicism as leading?
To Blahous’ Fifth Law, the supporters of Iran and its various foreign militias are a conspicuous counterexample: they are terrible people seeking horrific policy.
A wonderfully written piece. I would like to add some thoughts to the discussion. Adam Smith said “ there is a lot of ruin in a country”. I think we are testing those limits. Sadly or gladly I was educated during the time when plagiarism was more than frowned on and because of my need to succeed I learn to work hard and it has made my life better. The last President I was both happy to vote for and glad I did was President Reagan. Most people cannot imagine secondary effects and tertiary effects are beyond comprehension. Our country is run by unserious people who are intelligent but not smart and avaricious.
Great stuff AND a Tom Lehrer tune! More seriously, Mr. blauhouse’s Rule 9 is what enables the hordes of media content creators and strategists to continue working. It is never a failure of policy, but a need to revise the messaging and back to their laptops and Zoom sessions they go.
Indeed! In one episode of a long-ago TV show I liked ("Frank's Place"), a struggling restaurateur hired a consultant to advise him how to turn things around. One of the other characters advises him that a consultant is someone who knows fifty ways to make love, but can't get a date.
Great stuff. Love the Kevin Williamson quote. I think he's one of the most talented writers around, wish he got more attention.
Wow, wasn't expecting to see Lobachevsky show up here! 🤣 Well-written!
I’m honored you read my silly comments, much less remember them, Professor Graboyes. Thank you. Your illustration is perfect!
The political quotations at the end of your piece are excellent! I’m going to have to commit some to memory, especially the one from Mme. Calment. As I work my way through one of the books you recommended , _The True Believer_ , I find myself underlining Eric Hoffer’s words with increasing frequency and marveling at how apt they are 70 years later.
Thank you for the link to the Tom Lehrer song. It was the first time I heard it and I loved it. It will go in my “Always Look On the Bright Side of Life” playlist!
On the topic of political despair, I confess to wallowing in it from time to time, even allowing uncharitable wishes regarding the candidates’ well-being to creep in, but I comfort myself with the knowledge that I’m likely to be gone in 20 to 30 years, so maybe I shouldn’t sweat it. Of course, there’s always Mme. Calment. . . .
Thanks so much for sharing it! I saw on Twitter/X that a couple of people have used the expression in years past. But, as it says in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun.
I first posted it in 2016, then again in 2019 (little robot guy offering his detached brain on a plate). I see lots of others think along the same lines. Warped minds think alike or something. . . ; )
Ah! Maybe you’re the one I saw. It was 2016.
"Kakistocracy" - what a perfect word! New to me, but now permanently added to my vocabulary and so fitting to current political affairs. As I heard expressed by a wit on TV (cannot think who), we are faced with a choice between a candidate who is not senile but under indictment, and a candidate who is too senile to be indicted.
Brilliant post, Prof Graboyes. Thank you.
I learned the word "kakistocracy" back in 2008. It aptly describes the Indian political scene. I used it for the first time in a blog post in February 2008 -- Of Kakistocracies, Principals, and Agents. On searching my blog, I see there are 36 posts where the word appears: https://deeshaa.org/?s=kakistocracy
The Anything You Are For, I'm Against It, Inverse Rule: Whoever your would-be elite tell you that you can't vote for, or will not be permitted to vote for, that is who you should choose.
Ultra Mega Maga Yabba Dabba Doo for me.
Not even that is a reliable rule. Democrats, the press, and bien-pensants don’t want me to vote for Cornel West; nevertheless West is a viper and I’m not voting for him.
Ditto Trump.
Love. And accepted the invitation to take the meme. Thanks.
And the 10 Rules of Politics from an up close observer certainly reinforces my view of the political world. Nicely precise.
William T. Harris anticipated the devolution of language by over a century in arriving at the singular “they.”
You’re right! I never caught that.
Herman Wouk used the U.S.S. Caine to symbolize the United States: “designed by geniuses to be operated by idiots.” Unfortunately, in the case of the United States, redesigned (during the Progressive Era) by idiots to be operated by geniuses.
First of all is the requirement by law that political parties select their candidates by primary elections among whoever will “register” (with a public official) alignment with a party. What right has the state to tell a party how to select its nominees? And look at the consequences! The most extreme wins. This was less disastrous before the social media age, but there was never any excuse for it.
A side effect is the routine making public of the political affiliation—and exposing to trouble—of all those who take part in this decision process. Think about what “doxing” entails for those without private security.
Given time and space, I could go through the other “reforms” of the era—some of which, like this one, have, if not something to recommend them, then at least something objectionable they were trying to address. Taken together, they certainly caused the Great Depression, the rise of the administrative state, and many other disasters; and may yet doom the Republic.
Have a nice day.
In Virginia, the disenfranchisement of black voters and poorer white voters resulted from the 1902 Constitution, which was passed with great progressive hoopla. The goal was a more educated, enlightened electorate. And monstrous though it was, I think they believed the crap that they said.
It’s easy to believe that which is to your advantage; even easier to believe that which is to the disadvantage of people to whom you feel superior.
About the etymology of kakistocracy. I assume everyone knows the etymology of -ocracy. The prefix comes from Proto—Indo—European kakka-, “to defecate.” According to Calvert Watkins, American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots, “imitative of glottal closure during defecation.” I suppose he would know.
Funny. I looked at it today and wondered whether that was the etymology. I meant to look it up. Makes it an even better word.
If you make a bad deal, contact law exists to let you out of your contract. If contract law existed to hold you to your contract, it would be maybe a page long and employ maybe three dozen full-time-equivalent lawyers for the whole country.
:)
Does Blahous’ Third Law suggest that presidents favor free speech more, or disfavor it less, than do Congresses? Free press? Free exercise of religion? The writ of habeas corpus?
I fear so.
I'll ask him.
Quite a garden path of cynicism!
Is that really image you want, as opposed to “a garden of cynicism”? A garden •path• leads somewhere, and “down the garden path” leads us to think somewhere surprisingly unpleasant. If that is what you mean, then where do you see all this cynicism as leading?
To Blahous’ Fifth Law, the supporters of Iran and its various foreign militias are a conspicuous counterexample: they are terrible people seeking horrific policy.
And President Milei and his like are good people seeking fine policy.
I do not say Milton Friedman was inerrant—not his whole life, at any rate. But he is as close as I expect to see to a living god.
LOL. When I saw “plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize,” I immediately added, “Let no one else’s work evade your eyes.” Classic song. Lehrer was a gem.
Who made me the genius that I am today? ;)
A wonderfully written piece. I would like to add some thoughts to the discussion. Adam Smith said “ there is a lot of ruin in a country”. I think we are testing those limits. Sadly or gladly I was educated during the time when plagiarism was more than frowned on and because of my need to succeed I learn to work hard and it has made my life better. The last President I was both happy to vote for and glad I did was President Reagan. Most people cannot imagine secondary effects and tertiary effects are beyond comprehension. Our country is run by unserious people who are intelligent but not smart and avaricious.
Great stuff AND a Tom Lehrer tune! More seriously, Mr. blauhouse’s Rule 9 is what enables the hordes of media content creators and strategists to continue working. It is never a failure of policy, but a need to revise the messaging and back to their laptops and Zoom sessions they go.
Indeed! In one episode of a long-ago TV show I liked ("Frank's Place"), a struggling restaurateur hired a consultant to advise him how to turn things around. One of the other characters advises him that a consultant is someone who knows fifty ways to make love, but can't get a date.