John Ralston Saul on Reason, Elites, and Voltaire's Bastards 11/4/2013

[@ivandafoe5451]

MR. Roberts represents here the assumptions, attitudes, aspirations and complacency that has allowed the current economic and political dis-function in America to occur. John Ralston Saul represents openness to constant personal growth, brilliant insight and sage wisdom without pretense but with warm humor, whose words should have had a greater influence in the course of events.

[@deanrao4805]

Yes. Mr. Roberts' thinking put me in mind of the never ending cycle of fear and lesser evilism that's stoked during every big election. We can aspire to (dream of) something different. But it must be deferred until some vague time in the ever receding future. But THIS time we once more must placate the status quo bastards. Because it's just too darned scary to contemplate what might happen to us if we act before we're sure that we are overwhelmingly powerful. That is, it will never happen. Talk of the Law of Unintended consequences is silly at this point. It's already been applied to near exhaustion in getting us to THIS point.

[@BloggerMusicMan]

This is a wonderful discussion. I really liked the fact that the interviewer was respectful but still challenged John Ralston Saul with really challenging questions.

[@keatsgipsy9991]

Opinion is thought - most intelligent man - love his opinions - we would have no Arts should we only accept logic

[@aksbeixhev]

Great discussion.

[@neilwalsh3977]

Eg scenario - you have an assignment due on French pinheads during the Enlightenment in South-West Normandy. Meanwhile, the University Quad is on fire

[@neilwalsh3977]

McNamara loved Plato - the Ideal - calculated bombing charts re Japan and Vietnam.

[@gbh1904]

certitudo est mors dubium illuminat......