There was a time when intellectual thought influenced people to do certain things and accomplish great things……those days are GONE! The days of Aristotle, St. Augustine, Locke, Hume, Burke, Paine, Madison and yes even Marx…these people were thinkers and their thoughts prompted people to act…they were said to be influential…..these thinkers gave us ideas…ideas on society, governance and philosophy…they gave ideas which could improve our lives…..they gave us ideas that people would die for……they gave us ideas that statesmen would debate……
They were influential! But what about the 21st century…..who are those people that we think of as influential? Is it a big thinker? A great teacher? Is it Hawkin? Or maybe some outta the limelight dude or dudette?
NO! It has nothing to do with ideas, but rather everything to do with MONEY! People like Jobs, Gates, Buffet (Warren not Jimmy), Trump and on and on…..people who will make you do what they want you to do….that is right…I said MAKE….as in FORCE….you to do their bidding……these are the influential people….apparently we have moved beyond thinking and the world of ideas…..and onto the amount of cash you have….
So, for the first decade of the 21st century……money has replaced ideas…..what will the rest of the century give us? So the centuries of ideas that gave man direction has been replaced by superficiality……….if you believe in evolution then mankind is evolving into self-centered little worms…..I am so proud!
We-eell… Gates was influential in as much as he pushed through ideas that I was working on at much the same time, but HE pushed harder and made it happen – but THAT was the twentieth century.
The 21st century? Yes, well, I’d say Bush (GW that is). He set the tone and he will perhaps be seen as the leader who truly began the decline of America, perhaps the world as we currently know it… Of course, there are many who have participated and conspired at this, but GW will I think be seen as the prime instigator.
Obama is of course irrelevant – ineffectual as he is…
Gates these days is depending on his cash to keep him in the minds of Americans…….Bush? I guess I will agree….but that situation is basically about money too……defense money…oil money….etc…..Obama was influential for a few brief days in Washington….but those are gone and he is back to just trying to keep his base……
Oh, yes, of course the money god is all these days, whatever…
I think we as people are too divided to agree on what makes one influentual. Bush and Cheney, wealthy buisinessmen who ran the country..yes chuk i know..money..anyway there was also Gore and the eco-education. Mel Gibsons christian cinema. (pre train wreck mel). These men were all influentual heros to some, but insane to others. Gone are the poets, scientists, scholars, thinkers, etc. Now its all celebrities and CEOs.
Yes, Phillip. I think you’re right. Those who are most influential these days are often a bad influence, rather than even a well meaning one…
Celebrities and CEOs – yes, spot on!
Everyone that we have mentioned so far depend on money to make people do what they want……I believe we still have thinkers and scholars and the such….but some have turned them into so called “elites” and that is the demon that must be marginalized……
Obama at least had a moment where he inspired people but he couldnt follow thru. Innovative ideas and discoveries are giving way to catch phrases, theres no follow thru. Science has to fight neo religious zeal and thinkers are called elitist like chuq said. We have no common ground other than money. Until we remove thoses blinders we wont recognize any other influence.
Obama has had his day……in more modern terms…he has shot his wad……now it is politics as usual…no change…no hope and definitely NO reform……
Absolutely. I agree with both of you… so, that’s three of us can see the wood for the trees – only 250 million (or so) more converts to achieve…
So many….so little time…..