I just read this article:
Going for broke: the tragicomedy of Trussonomics
She was not a numbers person, she knew what the country needed.
The whole problem was that she was stupid. But why did Tory party members vote for her? Why did the Tory supporting newspapers hail the "mini" budget as outstanding and just what Britain needed? I think it's endemic stupidity. The problem is that the mechanism whereby people get into positions of influence and power doesn't appear to pay much heed to people's actually ability or intelligence. Influence and power is won by people being firm, being unwavering, in their convictions. Contrariwise, having a head for figures, having a nuanced stance on issues, doesn't win any favours with the masses, and it is the approval of the masses that precipitates a person's popularity and hence influence.
1 comment:
Two books which might shed some light on this are 'On the Psychology of Military Incompetence' and 'Our own Worst Enemy' - both by Norman F. Dixon. They are a treasure trove of folly and delusion.
Post a Comment