For Whom The Bell Curve Tolls

Intelligence, and that which puts it to the test, is relative to one's challenges. Contextual intelligence, which does not register well in standardized intelligence testing, is perhaps the most relevant to survival, and it is in the worst times of economic and environmental stress and upheaval that we see who has game. And, given current conditions, those times are not far in front of us. Towering debt, a failing dollar, massive job out-sourcing, and a general Wal Mart-ization of the economy all a signal rough road ahead. Those whose talents are of a corporate nature will not fare as well under such conditions as those who have lived at or below the poverty level, or even on the street, and have managed admirably through difficult circumstances, and even raised families to do likewise.

In the midst of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, a re-ordering took place among those who were in harm's way. Suddenly, one's property holdings or expertise in the stock market were of no use in finding the resources for survival. Those who were more familiar with crisis and a low level of comfort were the most able to deal with the shock and difficulty of the situation. The sense of looking into the abyss was not unfamiliar to them.

It was reported in the news recently that a pair of prison inmates braved a steep cliff and adroitly saved a man from a burning truck. Would soon-to-be inmate Kenneth Lay be so resourceful in such a situation? It's not too likely. Class privilege does not confer intelligence, and hardly even gives the appearance of it, and one need look no further than our own president to see the truth in that. There is no real pressure in a situation where the deck is stacked in your favor, and there is nothing to be learned, except that it sure is easy when you're sitting in the catbird seat.

The heart of the matter, which Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance author Robert Persig sought in such convoluted fashion, is quality, and the lack of it. It was Persig's cleaning lady who clued him in on that pearl of wisdom, giving him the epiphany he sought. One need not hold the philosophy chair at a prestigious university to arrive at such a clear conclusion, but, in this society, the pedigree weighs more than the truth. Once tenured, smugness tends to replace any sense of discovery. At this point, it's a wonder we're not all crawling around on our hands and knees, but, give it time.

"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."
-Epictetus

http://pissedoffcabbie.blogspot.com/

i would be very surprised to learn that you live in the new orleans area because what you say --

In the midst of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, a re-ordering took place among those who were in harm's way. Suddenly, one's property holdings or expertise in the stock market were of no use in finding the resources for survival. Those who were more familiar with crisis and a low level of comfort were the most able to deal with the shock and difficulty of the situation. The sense of looking into the abyss was not unfamiliar to them.

-- was absolutely untrue

the people who had the most money were the first to be able to be evacuate and the first to be able to return, poor people were taken off the roofs of their houses to distant shelters and then couldn't scrape together $200 to buy a bus or air ticket to return home sometimes for MONTHS -- meanwhile the families with property, insurance, and stock holdings had already bought up all the available housing on higher ground

compare orleans parish to st. bernard parish -- EVERY DAY i meet survivors from st. bernard parish who lost businesses, homes, and their entire communities and yet they have already picked up and started over and are living very well with the most incredible attitude

families from that parish raided retirement funds and stock market accounts and then have bought up entire new neighborhoods in covington and other places on higher ground

compare that to the poor person from st bernard housing PROJECT (not parish) in orleans "used to living on a low level of comfort" who can no longer find any place to live, since all low income housing has been destroyed and the shortage of workers means that all new construction/repairs are being done for people who lots of money and have ability to pay

we are now being treated to horrible scenes of those people, so without options, that they are literally breaking into one of those worst slums in the nation and attempting to live in the flooded out stinking mess left behind by the storm


persig is wrong and christ was right about this one -- from those who have much, much will be given, from those who have little, even that little will be taken away

there is nothing romantic about poverty, there is nothing to be learned from having a crappy life w. few comforts, by definition being poor means that there is nothing extra for times of emergency

and in ANY crisis, from the vietnamese escaping on a boat with a gold bracelet hidden on her body to the st. bernard parish businessman with a boat load of insurance papers in his pocket...it is ALWAYS better to have property and wealth than it is not to have them

having and being able to get wealth is a crucial survival skill, check the demographics if you don't believe me, because the math don't lie -- rich people live longer than poor people

What I meant to say here is that, at the street level, there IS a re-ordering, and that intelligence testing is culturally-biased. I know that not so many monied people got caught in Katrina, but the few that did learned some hard lessons.

More such hard lessons are, indeed, coming. The dollar is falling, and only so many will be properly prepared for the consequences. The nuevo rich will be washed away.

put it on my favorites list. :hi: