Great read! It’s a shame the discourse in Canadian politics doesn’t always welcome these nuanced critiques of WEF and the current government’s support of it.
Thanks for "We need to talk about Davos" and certainly makes "Davos Man" seem like an interesting read.
Your heading gave me the hope you were going to discuss more how Klaus Schwab's World Economic Forum agenda does or does not impact our daily lives today and into the future. Instead, in the first nine paragraphs you mention how Conservative politicians, with particular attention being given to Pierre Poilievre, other than renouncing affiliation are failing to discuss WEF to any degree.
My concern is more to our own Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, being on the WEF's Board of Trustees, and how our own Prime Minister embraces the WEF's Reset agenda.
In the end it is the plutocrats using some smoke and mirrors to look after the plutocrats, and for that reason you have raised a good discussion point.
Cath, I think that you have properly summarized things in your final paragraph, "In the end it is the plutocrats .... [looking] after the plutocrats."
My point is that the WEF is a social club of the wealthy and wannabe wealthy that tells everyone how we all should live. Some stupid people (think Ottawa residents, some in particular) absolutely swallow that "advice" but, really, it is all about the wealthy working to remain wealthy and increase their wealth.
So, who cares about what the wealthy say? Well, our government seems to but, really, so what? Our government is incompetent and as I have said elsewhere, could not secretly organize a punchup in a pub. They are incompetent. If they cannot accomplish anything by stealth then it must be out in the open - as it should be - and we can object or praise as we feel appropriate.
Therefore, if Canada adopts any of the WEF prescriptions [and I certainly don't want that!] it is our own fault for not adequately opposing something that we have seen coming. The fact that some external group of the wealthy did or did not advocate for the particular idea(s) is irrelevant; what is relevant is what we did when those policies were clearly proposed here.
Curious why, in a discussion about the WEF and Davos, you don't delve into the deep connections between this Liberal government and the WEF. Just finger pointing at conservatives.
"is it entirely fair to write off the fears and resentments of others, just because they don’t have a sophisticated or league-approved vocabulary to discuss the injustices they perceive?" Yes, thank you, Paul, for being able to see past the fog of unsophisticated debate to respect the fear that people rightly have. If politicians can find a way to respect the voter without getting caught up in their fear or demonizing them, we'd have an interesting leadership debate. And far better governance than provided by the current government.
So pleased you are writing about this topic and hope you don't get accused of shopping at the same tinfoilary shop I have been frequenting over these past few years . It will be refreshing to see more people actually come to the realization the idea of the WEF/ Klaus Schwab and Co. aren't a conspiracy theory . I wonder if there isn't a vigorous push back from any of the political leaders about the WEF because it may cause too much cognitive dissonance for mostly non contrarian Canadians ? As for the liberals, do they ever talk about the WEF? For a nuanced critique , other than the New York Times , may I suggest an article by Andrew Stuttaford, the editor of National Review (2020) called : A Useful Pandemic: Davos Launches a New Reset , this time on the back of Covid. Hope by now more people are realizing something is going on that isn't plainly spoken . Sometimes a trucker may know more than most , in my opinion.
I consider most of Wells' columns informative. But, I have no idea what the "media elite" (Peter S. Goodman) is.
If it's "a select group that is superior in terms of abilities or qualities to the rest of a group or society", aren't Wells and a bunch of other folks - doctors, lawyers, plumbers, musicians, etc., part of the elite?
Bruce, my interpretation of "media elite" is that the definition is the answer. In other words, they self select and that is the reason they are the "elite" - because they know they are.
Not.
I have great distrust of a vast number in the media. Certainly, there are folks who are elite in the normal sense of the word due to their elegant writing, their obvious knowledge of a topic, their ability to work logic, and so forth. What I detest is those who just know - just know, I tell you! - that they are elite and are therefore entitled to tell you what you and society should do.
I have no difficulty with someone who pokes fun at overbearing and overweening politicians and public figures; I have no difficulty with someone who asks questions and challenges us to think. I have a great deal of difficulty with those folks who are "better" than we the great unwashed and know "better" than we, the "uninformed" public what we should do.
So, In answer to your question, I do not think of Paul Wells as one of the "media elite" but he is, instead, an elite think on public policy. At least in my book.
Great piece. I think the WEF does important work in a number of areas - from eliminating plastics, to reducing the emissions intensity of big industry, to promoting efforts to reduce the gender pay gap, to getting business leaders engaged tangibly in humanitarian and refugee responses. Billionaires avoiding taxes and exploiting workers are the problem, not the WEF.
catching up on my reading. perceptive and intelligent . have the conservatives simply lost their way?
amazed by the number of people making comments on your work who are asking for money, makes me wonder if they different that the guys standing on King Edward in the Market?
Again, Paul, well done. There is a reason that I subscribe and that is your intelligent commentary and, often, your rapier-like wit. Oops almost called it rapier-like whip. Freudian.
Okay, sufficiently lick-spittle?
Now, for my commentary.
I simply am not terribly concerned with the WEF as it seems to me a silly target, much as was the Trilateral Commission, Club of Rome, the Rothschilds, etc., etc. for years, decades, gazillions of years and so forth. My point is that there is always a THEM for one to blame. "It isn't MY / OUR fault; it must be THEM!"
Really, the WEF and their ilk [such a wonderful evocative word, "ilk" meaning whatever you want it to mean] are simply a way to deflect from our troubles and load responsibility for those troubles from our shoulders onto the shoulders of others "THEM."
Yes, we can (perhaps?) blame / praise BlackRock, Blackstone, et al for ever so much but we should blame / praise them for what they actually have / have not done, not for membership in some silly social club of the wealthy and wannabe wealthy - a Swiss ski club. We can blame Chrystia for (apparently) being a "directing mind" [entirely my pejorative description] of the WEF but, I ask, what was the actual specific - specific, I say - direction that was, um, directed?
So, as I say, I pretty much ignore the WEF and all the nonsensical criticism. I am quite willing to think about specific praise or criticism that relates to specific actions but the idea of an international conspiracy? Please! Governments - particularly, the Canadian government - could not organize a punchup in a pub and keep it quiet; totally incompetent, you know.
A strong piece. Such a pleasure to read beneath the bad-Davos caricatures.
Great read! It’s a shame the discourse in Canadian politics doesn’t always welcome these nuanced critiques of WEF and the current government’s support of it.
Good morning,
Thanks for "We need to talk about Davos" and certainly makes "Davos Man" seem like an interesting read.
Your heading gave me the hope you were going to discuss more how Klaus Schwab's World Economic Forum agenda does or does not impact our daily lives today and into the future. Instead, in the first nine paragraphs you mention how Conservative politicians, with particular attention being given to Pierre Poilievre, other than renouncing affiliation are failing to discuss WEF to any degree.
My concern is more to our own Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, being on the WEF's Board of Trustees, and how our own Prime Minister embraces the WEF's Reset agenda.
In the end it is the plutocrats using some smoke and mirrors to look after the plutocrats, and for that reason you have raised a good discussion point.
Cath, I think that you have properly summarized things in your final paragraph, "In the end it is the plutocrats .... [looking] after the plutocrats."
My point is that the WEF is a social club of the wealthy and wannabe wealthy that tells everyone how we all should live. Some stupid people (think Ottawa residents, some in particular) absolutely swallow that "advice" but, really, it is all about the wealthy working to remain wealthy and increase their wealth.
So, who cares about what the wealthy say? Well, our government seems to but, really, so what? Our government is incompetent and as I have said elsewhere, could not secretly organize a punchup in a pub. They are incompetent. If they cannot accomplish anything by stealth then it must be out in the open - as it should be - and we can object or praise as we feel appropriate.
Therefore, if Canada adopts any of the WEF prescriptions [and I certainly don't want that!] it is our own fault for not adequately opposing something that we have seen coming. The fact that some external group of the wealthy did or did not advocate for the particular idea(s) is irrelevant; what is relevant is what we did when those policies were clearly proposed here.
Curious why, in a discussion about the WEF and Davos, you don't delve into the deep connections between this Liberal government and the WEF. Just finger pointing at conservatives.
"is it entirely fair to write off the fears and resentments of others, just because they don’t have a sophisticated or league-approved vocabulary to discuss the injustices they perceive?" Yes, thank you, Paul, for being able to see past the fog of unsophisticated debate to respect the fear that people rightly have. If politicians can find a way to respect the voter without getting caught up in their fear or demonizing them, we'd have an interesting leadership debate. And far better governance than provided by the current government.
So pleased you are writing about this topic and hope you don't get accused of shopping at the same tinfoilary shop I have been frequenting over these past few years . It will be refreshing to see more people actually come to the realization the idea of the WEF/ Klaus Schwab and Co. aren't a conspiracy theory . I wonder if there isn't a vigorous push back from any of the political leaders about the WEF because it may cause too much cognitive dissonance for mostly non contrarian Canadians ? As for the liberals, do they ever talk about the WEF? For a nuanced critique , other than the New York Times , may I suggest an article by Andrew Stuttaford, the editor of National Review (2020) called : A Useful Pandemic: Davos Launches a New Reset , this time on the back of Covid. Hope by now more people are realizing something is going on that isn't plainly spoken . Sometimes a trucker may know more than most , in my opinion.
Thanks. Great piece. For the record, I've never been to Davos.
A likely story. Thanks for checking in, Monte. Hope all's well.
I consider most of Wells' columns informative. But, I have no idea what the "media elite" (Peter S. Goodman) is.
If it's "a select group that is superior in terms of abilities or qualities to the rest of a group or society", aren't Wells and a bunch of other folks - doctors, lawyers, plumbers, musicians, etc., part of the elite?
Bruce, my interpretation of "media elite" is that the definition is the answer. In other words, they self select and that is the reason they are the "elite" - because they know they are.
Not.
I have great distrust of a vast number in the media. Certainly, there are folks who are elite in the normal sense of the word due to their elegant writing, their obvious knowledge of a topic, their ability to work logic, and so forth. What I detest is those who just know - just know, I tell you! - that they are elite and are therefore entitled to tell you what you and society should do.
I have no difficulty with someone who pokes fun at overbearing and overweening politicians and public figures; I have no difficulty with someone who asks questions and challenges us to think. I have a great deal of difficulty with those folks who are "better" than we the great unwashed and know "better" than we, the "uninformed" public what we should do.
So, In answer to your question, I do not think of Paul Wells as one of the "media elite" but he is, instead, an elite think on public policy. At least in my book.
Great piece. I think the WEF does important work in a number of areas - from eliminating plastics, to reducing the emissions intensity of big industry, to promoting efforts to reduce the gender pay gap, to getting business leaders engaged tangibly in humanitarian and refugee responses. Billionaires avoiding taxes and exploiting workers are the problem, not the WEF.
It's just the Met Gala for policy wonks, really.
catching up on my reading. perceptive and intelligent . have the conservatives simply lost their way?
amazed by the number of people making comments on your work who are asking for money, makes me wonder if they different that the guys standing on King Edward in the Market?
Paul, thank you for writing and sharing your thoughts. Here's my response: https://dnsabine.substack.com/p/yes-we-need-to-talk-about-davos
Again, Paul, well done. There is a reason that I subscribe and that is your intelligent commentary and, often, your rapier-like wit. Oops almost called it rapier-like whip. Freudian.
Okay, sufficiently lick-spittle?
Now, for my commentary.
I simply am not terribly concerned with the WEF as it seems to me a silly target, much as was the Trilateral Commission, Club of Rome, the Rothschilds, etc., etc. for years, decades, gazillions of years and so forth. My point is that there is always a THEM for one to blame. "It isn't MY / OUR fault; it must be THEM!"
Really, the WEF and their ilk [such a wonderful evocative word, "ilk" meaning whatever you want it to mean] are simply a way to deflect from our troubles and load responsibility for those troubles from our shoulders onto the shoulders of others "THEM."
Yes, we can (perhaps?) blame / praise BlackRock, Blackstone, et al for ever so much but we should blame / praise them for what they actually have / have not done, not for membership in some silly social club of the wealthy and wannabe wealthy - a Swiss ski club. We can blame Chrystia for (apparently) being a "directing mind" [entirely my pejorative description] of the WEF but, I ask, what was the actual specific - specific, I say - direction that was, um, directed?
So, as I say, I pretty much ignore the WEF and all the nonsensical criticism. I am quite willing to think about specific praise or criticism that relates to specific actions but the idea of an international conspiracy? Please! Governments - particularly, the Canadian government - could not organize a punchup in a pub and keep it quiet; totally incompetent, you know.
Yes they couldn’t organize a punch up in a pub …for their constituents. They could sure as hell organize it to enrich themselves and gain more power.
Income in a country goes to whoever controls government.
Is reading comprehension a thing of the past? Just wondering...
It certainly is for me.
if you do go, just don't inhale - you should be fine