What struck me most about the Vanity Fair article was the degree of vacuous nihilism from these intellectuals. They didn't want liberal democracy, but they didn't really want authoritarianism, either.
The article was summed up in Vance's observation that he wanted his son to never have to work for McKinsey. In other words, he wants Americ…
What struck me most about the Vanity Fair article was the degree of vacuous nihilism from these intellectuals. They didn't want liberal democracy, but they didn't really want authoritarianism, either.
The article was summed up in Vance's observation that he wanted his son to never have to work for McKinsey. In other words, he wants America to return to being the same society that begat the dysfunction his family experienced in Middletown, but somehow one that affords him the lifestyle of a venture capitalist. Vance could hang out a shingle and take up law practice tomorrow; or go to work for pretty much any firm in any city and do meaningful work, as an attorney in real estate, or employment, or product liability, or intellectual property. These are all industries that require bright legal minds at the cutting edge. But he doesn't and he won't. Nor will Hawley, or Cotton, or DeSantis, or Cruz. For each of these mean, it was federal clerkship or bust; McKinsey or bust; United States Senate (followed by a lucrative lobbying job) or bust.
It makes sense, though. In between these men's formal education and the high perches in society they now occupy, they've mostly accomplished nothing with their lives. They didn't practice law, they've never tried cases or argued appeals. They've never worked for any of the firms. All of them have extremely gilded resumes- long on accolades and short on any semblance of meaningful accomplishment.
And they want to lead the government, but offer no solutions to any of America's problems. Their convention is full of aimless people just like them, some even former Democrats. But among those, they never believed in anything concrete.
They complain about our drug problem, but support tax breaks and tort reform for the Sacklers. They complain their hometowns have been rundown and have no good jobs, but accept political contributions from the Walton family that put their Main Streets out of business. They refuse to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act, and argue that minimum wage should be abolished. They complain about crime, but offer nothing that would help track firearms, let alone impose responsibility on the most irresponsible gun owners.
They complain about the problems of public schools, but each of them sends their children to private school. They champion "vaccine freedom", but all of them are vaccinated. This is much worse than mere hypocrisy.
They decry a crisis of masculinity, and support as President, Donald Trump, the most emasculated individual to ever occupy the Oval Office, a cad's cad and coward's coward. Instead of attacking Trump for being a frequent passenger on the Lolita Express, and who publicly ogled over his oldest daughter, they've decided the Walt Disney needs to have a better message for today's children.
In 2020, they had no political platform (literally). In 2024, they won't even bother to defend themselves in a debate (not that they have a platform to defend). They're nihilists, through and through. They aren't for anything, and they have no guiding principals, no moral lodestone. At least most evil men know right from wrong and choose wrong, either willfully, or out of irresponsibility or cowardice. These men have nothing.
These are men whose lives are empty, wholly devoid of any meaning, and scared to death of the notion that their fellow Americans might find happiness in freedom. These men desire the shackles of authoritarianism, that it might inform them of what to do with their lives. Indeed, however, they'll find it just chasmic. It's why we cannot continue to allow these people such power, such influence on our society.
What struck me most about the Vanity Fair article was the degree of vacuous nihilism from these intellectuals. They didn't want liberal democracy, but they didn't really want authoritarianism, either.
The article was summed up in Vance's observation that he wanted his son to never have to work for McKinsey. In other words, he wants America to return to being the same society that begat the dysfunction his family experienced in Middletown, but somehow one that affords him the lifestyle of a venture capitalist. Vance could hang out a shingle and take up law practice tomorrow; or go to work for pretty much any firm in any city and do meaningful work, as an attorney in real estate, or employment, or product liability, or intellectual property. These are all industries that require bright legal minds at the cutting edge. But he doesn't and he won't. Nor will Hawley, or Cotton, or DeSantis, or Cruz. For each of these mean, it was federal clerkship or bust; McKinsey or bust; United States Senate (followed by a lucrative lobbying job) or bust.
It makes sense, though. In between these men's formal education and the high perches in society they now occupy, they've mostly accomplished nothing with their lives. They didn't practice law, they've never tried cases or argued appeals. They've never worked for any of the firms. All of them have extremely gilded resumes- long on accolades and short on any semblance of meaningful accomplishment.
And they want to lead the government, but offer no solutions to any of America's problems. Their convention is full of aimless people just like them, some even former Democrats. But among those, they never believed in anything concrete.
They complain about our drug problem, but support tax breaks and tort reform for the Sacklers. They complain their hometowns have been rundown and have no good jobs, but accept political contributions from the Walton family that put their Main Streets out of business. They refuse to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act, and argue that minimum wage should be abolished. They complain about crime, but offer nothing that would help track firearms, let alone impose responsibility on the most irresponsible gun owners.
They complain about the problems of public schools, but each of them sends their children to private school. They champion "vaccine freedom", but all of them are vaccinated. This is much worse than mere hypocrisy.
They decry a crisis of masculinity, and support as President, Donald Trump, the most emasculated individual to ever occupy the Oval Office, a cad's cad and coward's coward. Instead of attacking Trump for being a frequent passenger on the Lolita Express, and who publicly ogled over his oldest daughter, they've decided the Walt Disney needs to have a better message for today's children.
In 2020, they had no political platform (literally). In 2024, they won't even bother to defend themselves in a debate (not that they have a platform to defend). They're nihilists, through and through. They aren't for anything, and they have no guiding principals, no moral lodestone. At least most evil men know right from wrong and choose wrong, either willfully, or out of irresponsibility or cowardice. These men have nothing.
These are men whose lives are empty, wholly devoid of any meaning, and scared to death of the notion that their fellow Americans might find happiness in freedom. These men desire the shackles of authoritarianism, that it might inform them of what to do with their lives. Indeed, however, they'll find it just chasmic. It's why we cannot continue to allow these people such power, such influence on our society.
Very well stated. Thank you.