The Cognoscenti Syndrome
There is a group of people I think of as the Cognoscenti, people who are well educated, very informed and of rapidly diminishing relevance. Their ranks include writers such as Chris Hedges and Glen Greenwald. These are people who have honed an almost Puritanical value system, readily finding fault in any direction. They are scathing in their attacks on Republicans and Democrats alike to the point where they become nihilists.
They don't endorse. They prescribe. This is where they fail. They're unable to advocate for anything that might resonate with the public whose interests they argue are being trammeled. Donald Trump was bad but Joe Biden is scarcely better. This is where their elitism comes in.
74 million may have voted for Trump but, hey, they didn't know any better. The mob that stormed the Capitol. They were just victims of the system venting their frustrations. All the racism, bigotry, xenophobia, misogyny, white nationalism - inevitable side effects of their oppression by The Man.
The Cognoscenti believe what ails America won't be put right at the ballot box and they're probably right but the problem is that they stop there. They may wish for some sort of political upheaval but they stop well short of advocating it, much less taking concrete steps to promote it. Crossing that line, after all, has consequences and the courage of Nelson Mandella does not course through their veins. I grow tired of these armchair revolutionaries.
Fame destroys many good preachers.
ReplyDeleteI hope Monbiot does not fall into the same trap.
TB
I'm a great follower of Monbiot, TB, and yet I have found him a bit over the top recently. He's nothing if not an optimist and, while we need as many optimists as we can get these days, optimism freed of realism is cheerleading. Perhaps it is an admission that we need a tide change in attitudes across the national strata - individual, community, corporate and governmental - but there's little appetite for it.
DeleteThe Guardian has an interview with Bill Gate's this morning. He goes on about equity noting that the affluent countries produced the lion's share of greenhouse gas emissions but the smaller countries will bear the lion's share of the consequences. How can that be made right? What sort of remedial equity would be involved? It would, at the very least, require the developed countries to rapidly decarbonize their societies and their economies, something Gates admits is a non-starter. He believes a carbon-neutral civilization by 2050 is a pipe dream but we (the affluent and latitudinally advantaged) will get by somehow.
Ask your fellow Canadians whether they would support a 15% reduction in the country's economy in order to provide assistance to the Third World. You might wind up with a black eye.
Yesterday I did a post about Andrew Bacevich's take on what's poisoning America - the combination of militarism, racism and materialism. These forces are undermining the Republic and its democracy and yet they seem unstoppable. America is, as we're reminded, exceptional but are we not plagued, to a lesser degree, by our own social afflictions?
I don't believe we're ready for significant change and, absent that willingness, I fear that the urgings of Monbiot and others will fall mainly on deaf ears.
DeleteAm jeremiah, I am testifying about a great hebal man that cured my wife of hepatitis B and liver cirhosis. his name is Dr oniha. My wife was diagnose of hepatities two years ago, i almost spent all i had then, until i saw dr oniha recommendation online, and i call him, then he told me how to get the herb. You can call him on +2347089275769 or email him at dronihaspell@yahoo.com
I’m indeed very happy for the great help that Dr ehiaguna rendered to me,I was diagnosed with HSV 2 on July 7, 2018 and I have tried all possible means to get cure but all to no avail, until i saw a post in a health forum concerning herbal doctor Dr ehiaguna, who prepares herbal medicine to cure all kind of diseases/Infection including Herpes Simplex virus Type 2, at first i doubted if it was real but decided to give it a try, when i contact this herbal doctor via his email: drehiaguna@gmail.com He assured me of a cure, he prepared a herbal medicine and sent it to me via courier service, when i received this herbal medicine, he gave me instructions on how to use it, when i applied it as instructed, i was cured of this deadly virus within 14 days of usage,he told me to go for a medical check up and i went for test, I couldn't believe i was negative and the HERPES VIRUS in my body got cured, I and my family are so happy and grateful to God for using Dr ehiaguna to Liberate me. Reach Out to this great herbal doctor via his email : drehiaguna@gmail.com you can also reach him on WhatsApp +2348073908953 God bless you
DeleteI have found over the years of reading Chris Hedges, for whom I have a lot of respect, that he really does leave one without hope. I have tended to steer clear of him for that reason in the last while.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I try to give him a somewhat wide berth these days. If there was ever a time for constructive criticism and vision, this must be it. Those who put forward suggestions that aren't remotely plausible can cause pointless despair that progresses to resignation.
Delete" he really does leave one without hope"
DeleteNietzsche would say that hope is 'putting one's fate in the hands a of a higher power'.
While the cognoscenti and the literati dabble during an existential crisis
and yield the field to the digerati,
perhaps hope is the enemy.
Monbiot offers solutions like them or not.
ReplyDeleteI found his book 'Heat' https://www.monbiot.com/books/heat/ hopeful.
Hedges offers friction.
Re, Ask your fellow Canadians whether they would support a 15% reduction in the country's economy
Perhaps we just did due to Covid; it did not go down too well!
FWIW, the hurt was felt by the retail / mall sector who's main purpose is to add to GDP figures !
TB
What I tried to say about Monbiot, TB, is that his solutions, while admirable and inspiring, presuppose the existence or potential future existence of a broad based altruism that I think is fanciful. I just don't see that mass epiphany being realized in today's Western society. We're in for harder times. That appears to be the bottom line consensus and how apt is it that it will inspire in us an as yet unknown generosity to those in need.
DeleteThe Guardian (monbiot incl.) has joined the NYT & most of the media and become 'part of the problem', alas.
ReplyDeleteI can't think that any news organization that delivers focused, accurate information can be a problem, NPoV. Some of Monbiot's suggestions may be unrealistic but at least they get some people to think about issues otherwise ignored. That's quite different from Hedges' "they're all garbage" treatment of the issues of the day.
DeleteIt is no secret that I have a very deep and personal relationship with God. I have pushed and resisted that relationship this past year through all the bullshit I have had to go through living with Herpes but once again, God is bigger than my stubbornness and broke through that outbreak cold sore and all I had Genital Herpes. For me personally, hearing over and over how I am not good enough has really invaded my mind in the worst way possible. I completely shut down and I was just waking up like is this how life going to end this temporary herpes outbreak “fuck everybody with herpes if you know what I mean” but let's be honest here...
ReplyDeleteIt is cowardly to say no to herbal medicine. It is fear based. And it is dishonest to what my heart wants. Don't build a wall around yourself because you are afraid of herbals made or taking a bold step especially when it's come to health issues and getting cured. So many young men/ women tell me over and over that Dr Itua is going to scam me but I give him a try to today I feel like no one will ever convince me about herbal medicine I accept Dr Itua herbal medicine because it's cure my herpes just two weeks of drinking it and i have been living for a year and months now I experience outbreak no more, You can contact him if you need his herbal medicine for any such diseases like, Herpes, Parkinson, Diabetes, Hepatitis, Syndrome, Cancers, HIV, Epilepsy, Infertility, and any kind of disease & Infections Love Spell,. Email..drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com then what's app.+2348149277967.... My advice to any sick men/women out there is simple... Be Always an open book. Be gut wrenching, honest about yourself, your situation, and what you are all about. Don't hold anything back. Holding back will get you nowhere...maybe a one way ticket to lonelyville and that is NOT somewhere you want to be. So my final truth...and I'm just starting to grasp this one..
Finally I am free from herpes virus, with the help of Dr.Omola pure herbs, This Virus appeared at the age of 29, with no hope of a cure from the hospitals i have went to, I thought my life have come to an end, until a Facebook friend of mine told me about Dr. Omola who treats all Kinds of diseases including Herpes, I contacted him via his email: dr.omolaherbalhome@gmail.com, I explain everything to him so he ask for my home address, after telling me the cost of the herbal medicine so we agree at a particular price, he prepare the herbs and make delivery to me via FedEx delivery service they deliver the herbs to my door step, I drink the herbs as him instructed, I went for test in 3 different hospital and it was negative, today I'm free from herpes virus.
ReplyDeleteYou should try Dr.omola herbs I'm not the first person to be cured with his herbs there are different testimony about this herbal doctor, your case can not be different, here is his WhatsApp No +2348118116254 email: dr.omolaherbalhome@gmail.com.
I want to thank Dr OBUDU for the help he has rendered to me by getting Ridof my (HSV-2). I was Diagnosed in July 2018 but after the Usage of Dr OBUDU Herbal Medicine, I was cured from (HSV-2) and the virus was completely gonefrom my body. The Symptoms of the (HSV-2) Virus is completely Gone.. Soanyone who is having the virus should contact Dr OBUDU to give you theherbal medicine to cure yourself. HERPES, You can contact dr OBUDU on WhatsApp +2349023428871 or email: drobuduherbalhome@gmail.com. Also visit he’s website https://drobuduherbalhome.wixsite.com/welcometoobuduherbal He cures all this illness,. 1 cancer cure2 diabetes cure3 ringing ear4 herpes cure5 warts cure6 HPV cure7 Hiv8 get your ex back9 pregnancy herbal medicine10 prostate enlargement11 Hepatitis B….
ReplyDeleteI want to thank Dr OBUDU for the help he has rendered to me by getting Ridof my (HSV-2). I was Diagnosed in July 2018 but after the Usage of Dr OBUDU Herbal Medicine, I was cured from (HSV-2) and the virus was completely gonefrom my body. The Symptoms of the (HSV-2) Virus is completely Gone.. Soanyone who is having the virus should contact Dr OBUDU to give you theherbal medicine to cure yourself. HERPES, You can contact dr OBUDU on WhatsApp +2349023428871 or email: drobuduherbalhome@gmail.com. Also visit he’s website https://drobuduherbalhome.wixsite.com/welcometoobuduherbal He cures all this illness,. 1 cancer cure2 diabetes cure3 ringing ear4 herpes cure5 warts cure6 HPV cure7 Hiv8 get your ex back9 pregnancy herbal medicine10 prostate enlargement11 Hepatitis B….
ReplyDeleteI want to thank Dr OBUDU for the help he has rendered to me by getting Ridof my (HSV-2). I was Diagnosed in July 2018 but after the Usage of Dr OBUDU Herbal Medicine, I was cured from (HSV-2) and the virus was completely gonefrom my body. The Symptoms of the (HSV-2) Virus is completely Gone.. Soanyone who is having the virus should contact Dr OBUDU to give you theherbal medicine to cure yourself. HERPES, You can contact dr OBUDU on WhatsApp +2349023428871 or email: drobuduherbalhome@gmail.com. Also visit he’s website https://drobuduherbalhome.wixsite.com/welcometoobuduherbal He cures all this illness,. 1 cancer cure2 diabetes cure3 ringing ear4 herpes cure5 warts cure6 HPV cure7 Hiv8 get your ex back9 pregnancy herbal medicine10 prostate enlargement11 Hepatitis B….
ReplyDeleteI want to thank Dr OBUDU for the help he has rendered to me by getting Ridof my (HSV-2). I was Diagnosed in July 2018 but after the Usage of Dr OBUDU Herbal Medicine, I was cured from (HSV-2) and the virus was completely gonefrom my body. The Symptoms of the (HSV-2) Virus is completely Gone.. Soanyone who is having the virus should contact Dr OBUDU to give you theherbal medicine to cure yourself. HERPES, You can contact dr OBUDU on WhatsApp +2349023428871 or email: drobuduherbalhome@gmail.com. Also visit he’s website https://drobuduherbalhome.wixsite.com/welcometoobuduherbal He cures all this illness,. 1 cancer cure2 diabetes cure3 ringing ear4 herpes cure5 warts cure6 HPV cure7 Hiv8 get your ex back9 pregnancy herbal medicine10 prostate enlargement11 Hepatitis B….
ReplyDeleteGenital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease, affecting more than 400 million persons worldwide.it is caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) and characterized by lifelong infection and period reactivation, And the medical doctors has been killing us unknowingly to us with pills they gave us, it caused us heartburn. Antiviral prophylaxis with acyclovir only to help's reduce your pains, I am recommending you all to herbal remedy today, I was able to get rid of HSV2 totally with herbal medication from DR. AZAGO take a try of his medication and see for your self, reach him via Contact on>drazagoherbalcenter@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteor WhatsApp him >+23490598699991
It’s obvious some patients with herpes are being enslaved to the antiviral and other supplementary Orthodox medicine just to help suppress the virus and not a cure. I have been with the virus since 2015 until I was introduced by a blogger who also narrated her story online on how she was cured of Genital Herpes after using Dr Oluwale Herbal Medicine. This is a year and 10 weeks since I was delivered from genital Herpes. All thanks to God for using this Great herbalist to heal me. I have promised to keep telling good things about Dr Oluwale. Please feel free to share Your problems with him and don’t forget to tell him I did refer you to Him. Thanks. write him on mail droluwaleherbs@gmail.com He deals with High Blood Pressure, Chronic Kidney Diseases, Cancer, HIV, ALS, Diabetes, Virginal infection, Genital Wart, HPV, Hepatitis A/B, HSV, Pregnancy. You can reach this great herbal Dr Oluwale on Email droluwaleherbs@gmail.com WhatsApp/Call +2348165160236 His website:: https://droluwaleherbs.weebly.com
ReplyDeleteMy name is Thomas White, from United states, i have been HIV positive and it is just like been through hell; well special thanks to God almighty for using Dr Twaha, the greatest spell caster in curing my HIV disease. I was diagnosed of this disease in the year 2004. Although I was taking my medications I was not myself. Until a few weeks ago. My friend came to me and told me that he saw many testimonies on how a spell caster cured people HIV disease. Although I never believe in spell, I said to myself "seeing is believing" I took his name and searched it on GOOGLE, I saw many testimonies myself. Quickly, I copied his email: drlregbeyen10000@gmail.com I emailed him, he gave me a form to fill which I did, then he called me and told me that he required some items in which he will use in casting a curing spell on me and he told me that it will cost me some money which i sent to him because I could not find the items. He bought the items and prepared a cure for me, then he have sent a parcel to me through courier delivery service. I paid the courier services, I got my parcel, it was a bottle of ointment as described by Dr,Twaha After taking the ointment he told me to do a HIV test and the result came out negative. Quickly I called him and told him what happened he congratulated me. I promised to tell the world about him. You can contact him with any problem via email: (drlregbeyen10000@gmail.com) or contant him on whatspp +2349038518881 thank you Dr Twaha
ReplyDeleteI’m indeed very happy for the great help that Dr ehiaguna rendered to me,I was diagnosed with HSV 2 on July 7, 2018 and I have tried all possible means to get cure but all to no avail, until i saw a post in a health forum concerning herbal doctor Dr ehiaguna, who prepares herbal medicine to cure all kind of diseases/Infection including Herpes Simplex virus Type 2, at first i doubted if it was real but decided to give it a try, when i contact this herbal doctor via his email: drehiaguna@gmail.com He assured me of a cure, he prepared a herbal medicine and sent it to me via courier service, when i received this herbal medicine, he gave me instructions on how to use it, when i applied it as instructed, i was cured of this deadly virus within 14 days of usage,he told me to go for a medical check up and i went for test, I couldn't believe i was negative and the HERPES VIRUS in my body got cured, I and my family are so happy and grateful to God for using Dr ehiaguna to Liberate me. Reach Out to this great herbal doctor via his email : drehiaguna@gmail.com you can also reach him on WhatsApp +2348073908953 God bless you
ReplyDeleteThis is another testimony on how Chief Dr Lucky cured my HIV disease. Do you need a cure for your HIV disease? Do you want to be cured from your cancer disease? Or you want to be free from any type of disease. Kindly visit his website https://chiefdrluckyherbaltherapy.wordpress.com/ . He just cured my HIV disease and I’m very grateful to him, he is the only herbalist that can cure you.
ReplyDeleteWhatsApp number : +2348132777335
Via Email : chiefdrlucky@gmail.com
Thank you all for reading,
God bless"