Pretty clear that the revealed preference of most American institutions and elites is for authoritarianism. - ThreadSky

goldwagnathan.bsky.social • 65 days ago

Pretty clear that the revealed preference of most American institutions and elites is for authoritarianism.

“They’re all bending and saying, ‘Sir, thank you very much,’” Mr. Trump said, adding, “Law firms are just saying: ‘Where do I sign? Where do I sign?’”

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/b...

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nananancy.bsky.social•65 days ago

I feel unsafe here.

decapitalize.bsky.social•65 days ago

I'd be okay with it if it were leftist authoritarianism.

counterpunkt.bsky.social•65 days ago

No not revealed preference. America is a greedy country. That’s why this is happening, it’s easy to buy off the greedy.

handle.invalid•64 days ago

We got to find out the business that these firms represent and not support them. The only thing they respond to is money. They’d rather shred the law, save their client list than standup to something they supposedly dedicated decades of their life too.

nattygo.me•64 days ago

They want to keep their status and privileges and would rather burn the world down than give any of it up.

asilbey.bsky.social•64 days ago

Or... most Americans really. The complete and utter lack of mass protests and political unrest when faced with tyranny is bewildering to see. "Preference" might be a strong word ig, "tacit acceptance" maybe? Most Americans seem to just roll over and die when faced with autocracy.

shimmersoft.bsky.social•65 days ago

the problem with a lot of elites is that a big part of their success is being able to discern the moveset and mannerisms necessary to climb the social ladder. which is to say, they have mainly learned how to say yes, not no.

billycharlebois.bsky.social•65 days ago

As long as they’re in charge they do.

davidjorgonson.bsky.social•65 days ago

Is a "bell the cat" coordination problem the same as revealed preference? I don't think the university administrators or BigLaw partners are exactly happy with the negative incentives.

jmteo.bsky.social•65 days ago

Eh I think they are just cowards. This regime is genuinely bad for business.

builttoshill.bsky.social•65 days ago

Who could have predicted that establishment Democratic institutions were primarily interested in their own wealth and comfort?

northeasternblot.bsky.social•65 days ago

What's frustrating is how disconnected this is from the actual interests of the people that make the institutions successful.

I guarantee you wouldn't be able to get 10% of Columbia faculty or students to sign onto their capitulation to the admin. But the plutocrats on the board would.

northeasternblot.bsky.social•65 days ago

While I'm not involved in the Big Law world, I would be surprised if the associates and non-equity partners were as willing to cave as the equity partners making the decisions.

generalliederkranz.bsky.social•65 days ago

I wonder if this is part of the general “revolt of capital” narrative—partners annoyed that idealistic, uppity, and diverse associates are demanding work-life balance, DEI, and meaningful pro bono work. Trump is an excuse to discipline them.

economymedicine.bsky.social•65 days ago

They got upset when told they no longer could use their employees as a coercive dating service or people might not want to be around them anymore. Not even real consequences just any pushback was seen as a reason to burn it all down.

northeasternblot.bsky.social•65 days ago

Certainly the interaction between university administrations and unions suggest that their rhetoric means absolutely nothing if it means they can't control their graduate students, postdocs, and other employees.

akatzel.bsky.social•65 days ago

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