Nice discussion. I agree with Gruen vis-a-vis Yarvin. Yarvin correctly recognizes that what passes for "democracy" in the west is at its roots an oligarchy run by the elites, but his advocacy for a benevolent monarchy is, I think, naive, misguided and dangerous (e.g., he seems to like the PRC model, which just needs a bit of finesse around the edges...).
I'm also troubled by the rise of a new right-wing elite who can't bear the thought of finding common cause with the working classes (I guess the "low capital" folks). It started with the "Never Trumpers" like Bill Kristol and his acolytes, and now I see it bursting from the seams in the likes of Cofnas and Hanania. It reminds me of what I've witnessed over my entire life from the hypocritical leftists in academia who claim to advocate for the blue-collar folks, but wouldn't be caught dead in their company. Yes, Trump is flawed with a strong narcissistic streak, but this shouldn't be *only* about personality -- he's up against an entrenched deep state conducting a massive and unrelenting psyops campaign against his every move... let's give him a chance.
Minor point at (32:50). I'm quite familiar with the University of Texas at Austin, and it's very woke. You were thinking of the newly-founded University of Austin (which, BTW, is anything but "low capital").
> I'm also troubled by the rise of a new right-wing elite who can't bear the thought of finding common cause with the working classes (I guess the "low capital" folks).
Those folks were the ones who used to be the left's base and supported the left while it was creating our current problems. Then after the left through them under the bus, they show up on the right and demand the same patron-client deal they used to have with the left.
Nice discussion. I agree with Gruen vis-a-vis Yarvin. Yarvin correctly recognizes that what passes for "democracy" in the west is at its roots an oligarchy run by the elites, but his advocacy for a benevolent monarchy is, I think, naive, misguided and dangerous (e.g., he seems to like the PRC model, which just needs a bit of finesse around the edges...).
I'm also troubled by the rise of a new right-wing elite who can't bear the thought of finding common cause with the working classes (I guess the "low capital" folks). It started with the "Never Trumpers" like Bill Kristol and his acolytes, and now I see it bursting from the seams in the likes of Cofnas and Hanania. It reminds me of what I've witnessed over my entire life from the hypocritical leftists in academia who claim to advocate for the blue-collar folks, but wouldn't be caught dead in their company. Yes, Trump is flawed with a strong narcissistic streak, but this shouldn't be *only* about personality -- he's up against an entrenched deep state conducting a massive and unrelenting psyops campaign against his every move... let's give him a chance.
Minor point at (32:50). I'm quite familiar with the University of Texas at Austin, and it's very woke. You were thinking of the newly-founded University of Austin (which, BTW, is anything but "low capital").
> I'm also troubled by the rise of a new right-wing elite who can't bear the thought of finding common cause with the working classes (I guess the "low capital" folks).
Those folks were the ones who used to be the left's base and supported the left while it was creating our current problems. Then after the left through them under the bus, they show up on the right and demand the same patron-client deal they used to have with the left.