Did you build this? ...by David Brooks

[Anonymous]

Loved this column.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/opinion/brooks-the-credit-illusion.html?smid=tw-share

"There were many different chefs of the stew that is you: parents, friends, teachers, ancestors, mentors and, of course, Oprah Winfrey. It’s very hard to know how much of your success is owed to those people and how much is owed to yourself. As a wise man once said, what God hath woven together, even multiple regression analysis cannot tear asunder."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loved this column.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/opinion/brooks-the-credit-illusion.html?smid=tw-share

"There were many different chefs of the stew that is you: parents, friends, teachers, ancestors, mentors and, of course, Oprah Winfrey. It’s very hard to know how much of your success is owed to those people and how much is owed to yourself. As a wise man once said, what God hath woven together, even multiple regression analysis cannot tear asunder."

Great column. The problem with the Super Rich today is their arrogance and their lack of humility and perspective. Not many of them act like Gates or Buffett. It is all about me, me, me. UVa has a group of hedge fund managers who think they know how to run a university. Many wealthy Reps are more interested in cutting their own taxes, than supporting those in need, and so they donate to Rommney or Rove.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loved this column.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/opinion/brooks-the-credit-illusion.html?smid=tw-share

"There were many different chefs of the stew that is you: parents, friends, teachers, ancestors, mentors and, of course, Oprah Winfrey. It’s very hard to know how much of your success is owed to those people and how much is owed to yourself. As a wise man once said, what God hath woven together, even multiple regression analysis cannot tear asunder."

Great column. The problem with the Super Rich today is their arrogance and their lack of humility and perspective. Not many of them act like Gates or Buffett. It is all about me, me, me. UVa has a group of hedge fund managers who think they know how to run a university. Many wealthy Reps are more interested in cutting their own taxes, than supporting those in need, and so they donate to Rommney or Rove.

I liked this column. I love reading Brooks, even when I don't agree with him.

Just as an aside, though hasn't this always been a problem with the super rich, at least generally? Arrogance, lack of humility, sense of entitlement, etc.? I think there's plenty of evidence to suggest that. And it seems that the "me me me" attitude is hardly limited to the super rich these days.

[Anonymous]

He says as he sits in his $5m Cleveland Park home. This guy is a liberal posing as a conservative.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was a dumb column. Sure, take some ownership of your accomplishments, but also know that you are part of larger picture. Didn't he just steel that from Obama?

[Anonymous]

Oops, I meant "steal that from Obama".

[Anonymous]

Reading you liberal's words above, I can't tell what the tone and tenor of your voice is. But I heard Obama's tone and tenor during the Roanoke speech. The problem, as I see it, is that Obama's rhetoric was littered with disdain. It really is unbecoming the office of the President. But it is clear that this time around, Obama's strategy is to divide the country, rather than unite it. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading you liberal's words above, I can't tell what the tone and tenor of your voice is. But I heard Obama's tone and tenor during the Roanoke speech. The problem, as I see it, is that Obama's rhetoric was littered with disdain. It really is unbecoming the office of the President. But it is clear that this time around, Obama's strategy is to divide the country, rather than unite it. Sad.

"you liberals' words"???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading you liberal's words above, I can't tell what the tone and tenor of your voice is. But I heard Obama's tone and tenor during the Roanoke speech. The problem, as I see it, is that Obama's rhetoric was littered with disdain. It really is unbecoming the office of the President. But it is clear that this time around, Obama's strategy is to divide the country, rather than unite it. Sad.

I heard no disdain in Obama's speech. Pointing out that we all benefit from our nation (of which I am sure you are PROUD), is hardly a put down of any individual's accomplishments. In fact he expressed admiration for those accomplishments. Jon Daily put together a nice little tape showing point by point that Romney has said exactly the same thing -- I can't find the clip; perhaps someone can supply it.

[Anonymous]

I find this whole topic so odd.

If I say "America is the land of opportunity" you say of course it is. And yet if someone dares to suggest that this country is part of your success you get offended.

I'm sure some faux constitutional scholar will suggest that the "genius" of America is that it gets out of the way of the entrepreneur and therefore deserves no credit. But that's clearly not true. There are many countries with little or no restriction on business. They tend to be lawless and corrupt economies that only allow the few wealthy to run the show. These places develop neither the talent or the market necessary to fuel growing companies. They don't provide stability, they don't Have the infrastructure, thry dont have an educated labor pool, they don't ensure lawful behavior. They are unpredictable and undependable places to build. Even in industries that could be located anywhere in the world, such as internet, US companies dominate. There is a reason, and it's not because entrepreneurs just happened to be born here.

The country matters. And anyone who likes to talk about American Exceptionalism should have the integrity to admit that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading you liberal's words above, I can't tell what the tone and tenor of your voice is. But I heard Obama's tone and tenor during the Roanoke speech. The problem, as I see it, is that Obama's rhetoric was littered with disdain. It really is unbecoming the office of the President. But it is clear that this time around, Obama's strategy is to divide the country, rather than unite it. Sad.

I heard no disdain in Obama's speech. Pointing out that we all benefit from our nation (of which I am sure you are PROUD), is hardly a put down of any individual's accomplishments. In fact he expressed admiration for those accomplishments. Jon Daily put together a nice little tape showing point by point that Romney has said exactly the same thing -- I can't find the clip; perhaps someone can supply it.

Your head is in the sand. Romney was addressing olympic athletes when he told them that they likely have others to thank. Well, yes I suppose they do. Look it up and compare the tone and tenor of the words. Romney's were stated with a quiet respect. Obama was practially foaming at the mouth. You can hear the disdain if you just listen. It's all part of a pattern of demonizing success and demonizing business. You don't see it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading you liberal's words above, I can't tell what the tone and tenor of your voice is. But I heard Obama's tone and tenor during the Roanoke speech. The problem, as I see it, is that Obama's rhetoric was littered with disdain. It really is unbecoming the office of the President. But it is clear that this time around, Obama's strategy is to divide the country, rather than unite it. Sad.

I heard no disdain in Obama's speech. Pointing out that we all benefit from our nation (of which I am sure you are PROUD), is hardly a put down of any individual's accomplishments. In fact he expressed admiration for those accomplishments. Jon Daily put together a nice little tape showing point by point that Romney has said exactly the same thing -- I can't find the clip; perhaps someone can supply it.

Your head is in the sand. Romney was addressing olympic athletes when he told them that they likely have others to thank. Well, yes I suppose they do. Look it up and compare the tone and tenor of the words. Romney's were stated with a quiet respect. Obama was practially foaming at the mouth. You can hear the disdain if you just listen. It's all part of a pattern of demonizing success and demonizing business. You don't see it?

NP here. No, I honestly do not hear it. Foaming at the mouth--are you saying that our president was rabid when he gave his speech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading you liberal's words above, I can't tell what the tone and tenor of your voice is. But I heard Obama's tone and tenor during the Roanoke speech. The problem, as I see it, is that Obama's rhetoric was littered with disdain. It really is unbecoming the office of the President. But it is clear that this time around, Obama's strategy is to divide the country, rather than unite it. Sad.

I heard no disdain in Obama's speech. Pointing out that we all benefit from our nation (of which I am sure you are PROUD), is hardly a put down of any individual's accomplishments. In fact he expressed admiration for those accomplishments. Jon Daily put together a nice little tape showing point by point that Romney has said exactly the same thing -- I can't find the clip; perhaps someone can supply it.

Your head is in the sand. Romney was addressing olympic athletes when he told them that they likely have others to thank. Well, yes I suppose they do. Look it up and compare the tone and tenor of the words. Romney's were stated with a quiet respect. Obama was practially foaming at the mouth. You can hear the disdain if you just listen. It's all part of a pattern of demonizing success and demonizing business. You don't see it?

Clearly your interpretations of Barack Obama's words are highly subjective. "Foaming at the mouth" is just not a credible description of what he said, but more an indication of what you feel.

[Anonymous]

"Foaming at the mouth" is one more example of GOP-speak for "What the hell is that uppity guy doing in the White House?" Forgive the somewhat racially tinged term uppity, but if PP sees foaming at the mouth, I can sure as hell see a bit of subliminal racism!

[Anonymous]

Talking while black?