Fun fact: My former colleague at a Federal scientific-research agency was Robert Mercer’s office mate—and ping-ping partner!—in grad school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. They both hold Ph.D.’s in Physics. My colleague went on to be one of the top researchers in the world in an esoteric niche of technology used for climate-science research. In other words, not only is he brilliant but also has a big heart: Spent his career giving back to the community and the Earth.
Contrast that with Bob Mercer, who used his brilliant mind (my co-worker says he’s one of the best mathematicians he’s ever known) and tax-subsidized education to become a co-founder of Renaissance Technology. His contribution to society? Coming up with sophisticated trading algorithms to help himself and his buddies become billionaires at his hedge-fund/investment company. “Research in the public interest?” Not so much.
Jane Mayer had an excellent article on the Mercer family in The New Yorker a few years back; worth looking up. Among the many far-right zingers Mercer has been said to embrace is this one: “Nuclear war on US soil wouldn’t be all that bad for most Americans.” Bunker mentality: Survival of the Richest (which is another article worth looking up).
How did these two bright students diverge so strikingly in their life paths? It does seem that people like Mercer become so far removed from real life and average people that they lose sight and sense of their own humanity. I still ponder how someone so brilliant as Mercer could be so hollow inside. I guess that applies to many of the attendees at Trump’s recent fundraiser at Paulson’s house. Oh, and Trump himself—minus the smarts.
Great writing and an astute appraisal of the snooty Klingenstein. The very rich oligarchs in our country have convinced themselves that—despite the fact that they were never elected leaders—they should be running the country. It’s up to us to prove them wrong.
Just curious- should it be ion the claque ? “Other members ion the claque got rich cornering the market on quotidian essentials, like the Uihlein family of Wisconsin who turned their dad’s workingman beer company into a trucking and cardboard box concern in time to catch the end of the brick-and-mortar store - and now pour money into Trump and issues like battling gun reform. “
Thank you for saying this so eloquently. We are indeed all immigrants, unless we are Native Americans, and that is the foundation of the nation. These gluttons prove that money just isn’t enough to satisfy - boundless power is necessary to maintain false superiority. And they live in abject fear of losing a penny of it. The contrast between Bezos and the homeless man is poignant and oh-so valid. We’d best win this war…we already know what it’s like when the Hitleresque crowd takes over. Are our memories that short?!
Seminal piece on the central problems we face, inadequate governance over the out-sized influence hubs that have spent decades and billions training and maneuvering to outstrip democracy’s promise and seize the reins of power to protect their malignant influence: specifically, Old Europe Religion, and its #2 massive wealth.
These are foundational threat recognized even in the Colonies, in terms of acceptable religions and practices, that were seen as inimical to the Experiment.
Thanks for the video link. Triggering beyond words. Luckily my brother called a minute in, as my rage neared its peak. Great example of Adam Smith’s Masters of Mankind and their Vile Maxim. Definitely saving it to my archive for my personal counteroffensive. 😉
Fun fact: My former colleague at a Federal scientific-research agency was Robert Mercer’s office mate—and ping-ping partner!—in grad school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. They both hold Ph.D.’s in Physics. My colleague went on to be one of the top researchers in the world in an esoteric niche of technology used for climate-science research. In other words, not only is he brilliant but also has a big heart: Spent his career giving back to the community and the Earth.
Contrast that with Bob Mercer, who used his brilliant mind (my co-worker says he’s one of the best mathematicians he’s ever known) and tax-subsidized education to become a co-founder of Renaissance Technology. His contribution to society? Coming up with sophisticated trading algorithms to help himself and his buddies become billionaires at his hedge-fund/investment company. “Research in the public interest?” Not so much.
Jane Mayer had an excellent article on the Mercer family in The New Yorker a few years back; worth looking up. Among the many far-right zingers Mercer has been said to embrace is this one: “Nuclear war on US soil wouldn’t be all that bad for most Americans.” Bunker mentality: Survival of the Richest (which is another article worth looking up).
How did these two bright students diverge so strikingly in their life paths? It does seem that people like Mercer become so far removed from real life and average people that they lose sight and sense of their own humanity. I still ponder how someone so brilliant as Mercer could be so hollow inside. I guess that applies to many of the attendees at Trump’s recent fundraiser at Paulson’s house. Oh, and Trump himself—minus the smarts.
Thank you for this. It is such a good question. The Jane Mayer Mercer article was so disturbing. He is truly a freak. And so is his daughter.
Great writing and an astute appraisal of the snooty Klingenstein. The very rich oligarchs in our country have convinced themselves that—despite the fact that they were never elected leaders—they should be running the country. It’s up to us to prove them wrong.
thank you
A first-rate comment for so many reasons. Thank you!
Great piece, Nina. That video was so creepy. Who knew you tried to get Bezos to save Time. Were you an emissary, or were you acting on your own?
No it was newsweek, and yes acting on my own!
So we are watching Jeopardy, and the category is "Gargoyles."
I say, "Hey, I should be good at this! I'm a Gargoyle!"
And my daughter looks at me and says, "Daddy, that would be rude to all the other Gargoyles."
Just curious- should it be ion the claque ? “Other members ion the claque got rich cornering the market on quotidian essentials, like the Uihlein family of Wisconsin who turned their dad’s workingman beer company into a trucking and cardboard box concern in time to catch the end of the brick-and-mortar store - and now pour money into Trump and issues like battling gun reform. “
corrected ... typo ... "of"
All good Nina. Just wanted to ask.
i generally enjoy this post, though i would've preferred that you noted that the $50M raised has not been confirmed.
reported
Sounds like the Penguin is all in for Trump.
Thank you for saying this so eloquently. We are indeed all immigrants, unless we are Native Americans, and that is the foundation of the nation. These gluttons prove that money just isn’t enough to satisfy - boundless power is necessary to maintain false superiority. And they live in abject fear of losing a penny of it. The contrast between Bezos and the homeless man is poignant and oh-so valid. We’d best win this war…we already know what it’s like when the Hitleresque crowd takes over. Are our memories that short?!
Seminal piece on the central problems we face, inadequate governance over the out-sized influence hubs that have spent decades and billions training and maneuvering to outstrip democracy’s promise and seize the reins of power to protect their malignant influence: specifically, Old Europe Religion, and its #2 massive wealth.
These are foundational threat recognized even in the Colonies, in terms of acceptable religions and practices, that were seen as inimical to the Experiment.
Thanks for the video link. Triggering beyond words. Luckily my brother called a minute in, as my rage neared its peak. Great example of Adam Smith’s Masters of Mankind and their Vile Maxim. Definitely saving it to my archive for my personal counteroffensive. 😉
Words like honey to the beleaguered, pray continue.