Need We Say More?

Oh, Boy

For self-parody, Dave exceeds himself today. And he does it in the very first paragraph:

"Sometime early last week, a large slice of educated America decided that Amy Chua is a menace to society. Chua, as you probably know, is the Yale professor who has written a bracing critique of what she considers the weak, cuddling American parenting style."

What the --!

Now, empircally speaking, how would he know that a slice, of whatever size, decided anything about Amy Chua? My guess, which is supported by as much evidence as Dave's assertion, is that the far larger portion of educated America has no idea who Amy Chua is. In that context, it's bracing indeed that Dave writes "as you probably know."

At best, lots of people saw a story somewhere about "Tiger mothers," and maybe read enough to conclude that any parent who likes this woman must be a whack and a half.

Brooks a Commie?

Dave displays his lack of intellectual consistency when he writes:

"Researchers ... have found that groups have a high collective intelligence when members of a group ... take turns speaking, when the inputs from each member are managed fluidly, when they detect each others’ inclinations and strengths. Participating in a well-functioning group is really hard."

That's curiously collectivist thinking from a conservative individualist. I thought we were all supposed to sink or swim on our own?

Tell It to Palin

In that same excerpt, substitute "groups" with "society" and apply Dave's observations to America's political discourse:

"Researchers ... have found that society has a high collective intelligence when members of society ... take turns speaking, when the inputs from each member are managed fluidly, when they detect each others’ inclinations and strengths."

Let's just hope our politicians never learn about this research. They might have to change the way they speak about issues and address their opponents. And that'd be hard! As Dave notes, with his customary perspicacity and facility for phrasing, "Participating in a well-functioning society is really hard." Yarp!

The Appeal Renewed

Please, New York Times. Thank Brooks for his hard work and contributions over the years, and give his space to someone with something fresh and interesting to say.