"Resentment over lack of opportunity for various groups in different contexts is one of the drivers of populist politics," Mounk. It is so important to understand this statement; it is NOT the opportunity to go to college. Populism emerges where the opportunity for the non-college persons to have a secure economic base plus dignity and respect is lost. Unions provided this. For example a unionized worker, with the support of the union, could stand up to a terrible boss and demand respect. Another driver of populism is adherence to a Meritocracy which demeans those who do not have the "merit" of, say, a college education; therefore they do not have a claim to dignity and respect. The recent German elections illustrate the role of dignity and respect in attracting many of the voters who once voted for the populist.
Where we go from her is incredibly important. The COVID and Trump experiences can be viewed as blessings should see them as highlighting the things needing fixing. As Fiona Hill points out in life, her book and to you, Yascha Mounk in this interview, that opportunity is absolutely key to prosperity. Fiona hill managed to make this fantastic journey and there are many others: Vernon Jordon and recently Sidney Poitier come to mind. But these wonderful breakthroughs are not enough. In a way their successes only shows how much other talent is wasted by not being recognized, encouraged, schooled, financed and otherwise invested in.
I am an example myself of perhaps a wasted resource. I stuck in a job that I was indifferent about, at best, until I qualified for Medicare because doing what I wanted and actually talented at, was financially too risky without having health insurance (buying private coverage was impossibly expensive).
I'm a little late to the party with this, but I loved Fiona Hill's comments here as much as I admired her courage and thoughtfulness during her interrogation (I almost said 'appearance') by certain members of Congress. As a working-class guy who has also risen above my station, whose parents encouraged that, who also depended on scholarships, also learned Russian, and spends a lot of time thinking about the USSR and American democracy, I was thrilled to see her trace her life with so much humility and wisdom. I especially loved the idea that her upbringing toughened her and helped her when she was under fire for speaking truth to power, and her comments on feeling like an outsider. She speaks of her people with so much respect, and this fine interview showed how her humble upbringing has enabled her to understand both liberal and conservative viewpoints. I wish that were true of more members of the American elite. Her comments on Trump, Berlusconi, and Johnson are spot on. Brava, Fiona!
"Resentment over lack of opportunity for various groups in different contexts is one of the drivers of populist politics," Mounk. It is so important to understand this statement; it is NOT the opportunity to go to college. Populism emerges where the opportunity for the non-college persons to have a secure economic base plus dignity and respect is lost. Unions provided this. For example a unionized worker, with the support of the union, could stand up to a terrible boss and demand respect. Another driver of populism is adherence to a Meritocracy which demeans those who do not have the "merit" of, say, a college education; therefore they do not have a claim to dignity and respect. The recent German elections illustrate the role of dignity and respect in attracting many of the voters who once voted for the populist.
Where we go from her is incredibly important. The COVID and Trump experiences can be viewed as blessings should see them as highlighting the things needing fixing. As Fiona Hill points out in life, her book and to you, Yascha Mounk in this interview, that opportunity is absolutely key to prosperity. Fiona hill managed to make this fantastic journey and there are many others: Vernon Jordon and recently Sidney Poitier come to mind. But these wonderful breakthroughs are not enough. In a way their successes only shows how much other talent is wasted by not being recognized, encouraged, schooled, financed and otherwise invested in.
I am an example myself of perhaps a wasted resource. I stuck in a job that I was indifferent about, at best, until I qualified for Medicare because doing what I wanted and actually talented at, was financially too risky without having health insurance (buying private coverage was impossibly expensive).
Many thanks to you both.
I'm a little late to the party with this, but I loved Fiona Hill's comments here as much as I admired her courage and thoughtfulness during her interrogation (I almost said 'appearance') by certain members of Congress. As a working-class guy who has also risen above my station, whose parents encouraged that, who also depended on scholarships, also learned Russian, and spends a lot of time thinking about the USSR and American democracy, I was thrilled to see her trace her life with so much humility and wisdom. I especially loved the idea that her upbringing toughened her and helped her when she was under fire for speaking truth to power, and her comments on feeling like an outsider. She speaks of her people with so much respect, and this fine interview showed how her humble upbringing has enabled her to understand both liberal and conservative viewpoints. I wish that were true of more members of the American elite. Her comments on Trump, Berlusconi, and Johnson are spot on. Brava, Fiona!