By Dan Calabrese ——Bio and Archives--December 30, 2013
American Politics, News | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
Manufactured intelligence is the smarmy quality that oozes out of a New York Times column by Thomas Friedman, Maureen Dowd, Frank Bruni and the rest of the gang who tell you nothing meaningful while dazzling you with references to international locations, political events and pop culture, tying together absurdities into one synergistic web of nonsense that feels meaningful.
How do you decide who gets admitted to the live TED events? Our goal is a diverse community of amazing people from numerous fields. We also try to maintain a balance between longstanding TEDsters and invaluable newcomers. We are admitting around 1,500 people to TED, and a year ahead of each conference there is already demand from far more people than will fit. We give preference to people who:Translation: You get to attend when you're part of the elite crowd as defined by them. It's not that different from trying to get into a fraternity or sorority, except that the kegger only lasts 18 minutes. The pretentiousness is pretty much the same. Why does any of this matter? Because it explains how people are capable of believing nonsense that simple facts demonstrate to be nonsense. Liberal policies have failed to solve poverty, failed to generate economic growth, failed to make us energy-independent and are now in the process of making a total fiasco of health care. Look at the real-world results and you can come to no other conclusion. So don't look at the real-world results. Go to Davos and rub elbows with Thomas Friedman and Fareed Zakaria. Attend a TED talk if you are chosen worthy. Hang around with the really smart people who understand how the world really works, and ignore what you see out there. The great unwashed are not picking at salmon and filing columns from high-rise hotels in Shanghai, so what do they know? This is how it becomes possible to believe what is patently absurd. You hole yourself up in a world where everyone else believes it to, and where everyone congratulates each other for believing it. You're not smart. But you feel smart. Of course, that's not the Holiday Inn Express you're staying in. You're so much better than that!
- are curious, passionate and open-minded
- have done something fascinating with their lives
- show evidence of creativity, innovation, insight or brilliance
- would be wonderful to sit next to at lunch and have a conversation with
- are well placed to help make a difference in the world
- have made a contribution to the TED community already
View Comments
Dan Calabrese’s column is distributed by HermanCain.com, which can be found at HermanCain
Follow all of Dan’s work, including his series of Christian spiritual warfare novels, by liking his page on Facebook.