the more i think about that harper's letter the more i think the abject fear that drove it is the fact that all of these so-called "intellectuals" have done absolutely nothing to actually solve any of the very real problems that are currently blowing western civilization up

these are mostly people who make an extremely comfortable living sitting around saying "hm, well what about this?" with looks of concern on their faces and just kind of pushing pieces around the board endlessly, with the only goal that the game continues forever

the key to maintaining a wealthy "intellectual class" is a society that mostly works—sure, there was a lot of racism and sexism and whatnot pre-pandemic, but for the most part the people who read the Times opinion section (and Harper's) could afford to simply muse over things

now, with millions unemployed, 130,000 dead, borders effectively closed, an autocrat in charge, democracy not only crumbling but exposed for what it was all along, people are looking for real answers and none of these fuckers actually have any

someone like david brooks was never going to provide an answer to anything. that would end the grift. people like him just want to endlessly ponder questions, sprinkling in classical references to impress his fellow intellectual gymnasts

no wonder why they felt the need to put their names to a statement reassuring themselves that they are Very Important Thinkers on Matters of Substance. because it's all they've got left.

just as the pandemic showed which workers were truly essential, it also exposed those who absolutely aren't. the "free exchange of ideas" as they see it is a hobby for the idle rich, lazily volleying hypotheticals that will never directly affect them.

i don't know, maybe i'm completely off the mark here, but most of those people strike me as similar as the band on the titanic—yeah, you sound lovely, but the ship is still fucking sinking and you're not capable of doing fuckall to stop it.

oh and I guess the last thing is of course they want all ideas to be engaged with. that's their game and they want to keep playing it at all costs. they want to keep serving and for others to keep returning, nevermind that the court is on fire, maybe the game is fucking over.