I’ve seen that framed as an employment interview question: “Do you really have x years experience, or 1 year repeated x times?”
I wonder if any actual interviewers ever used it?

Your prescription for preparing managers is astute. IMO one of the biggest problems with companies today, especially large ones, is bringing in MBAs and outsiders to run the place, instead of people who have spent time learning about the business from the inside and the bottom up.

I note that Donald Trump made his kids do maintenance work on the family vacation home, and IIRC had them learn the ropes of his business as well.
Might have to check on that.

NOTE: My Brave browser search for “trump vacation home kids jobs” turns up nothing on the first page addressing that topic, but several posts about Biden’s vacations, job listings at one of his resorts, generic advice for parents, and Kamala’s family history. I know I read a post about the subject not too long ago.

I’m well aware of the tragic story of RFK Jr.’s ex-wife and her suicide. I am not an RFK Jr. supporter and have never said his life is exemplary. However, I believe he has been politically persecuted by the Democrats through lawfare and I think Trump was wise to court his support.

As far as her suicide goes, there is little doubt in my mind that his unfaithfulness and their separation was an important factor in that tragic event. But plenty of people experience a spouse’s infidelity and don’t kill themselves – fortunately. She had other problems as well – substance abuse, for example.

All the burning bridges
That have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings
And the burning memories
Everyone I left behind
Each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

–“Kelly’s Heroes – Theme Song HD (Burning Bridges)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgeIINs1TrQ
_____________________

What a weird, wondrous movie, perfect in its way.

Yeah, me neither.

Good comment on the credibility of “authority” here:
https://www.thenewneo.com/2024/08/24/commenter-aesopfan-explains-my-own-position-vis-a-vis-liberal-democrat-friends-and-family-for-the-most-part/#comment-2758200

Cary Kembla on August 25, 2024 at 10:47 pm said:
I think the dimension that is lacking in these people is skepticism of authority.
….[long explanation of personal experience, concluding about other family members]….
They are cognitively unable to let go of the idea that while Authority may make the odd mistake here and there, it would NEVER purposely try to lie to them or hurt them.

Sarah Hoyt on the topic last week, as prologue to a particularly bad example of putting “experts” in charge of something:
https://accordingtohoyt.com/2024/08/21/the-illusion-of-control/

A lot of people here are older than I, but even I remember the ethos I grew up with: the idea that top people rose to top positions, and that “experts” in the government knew what was going on and could forecast how things should be done, and what to do for “progress.”

I never put much faith in it, but that’s probably both because of a problem with authority (A very small problem. I neither like it nor trust it. While understanding not all authority is bad, and that it’s impossible for me to verify everything for myself and trust no one. So, you know, a tiny problem about the size of the universe) and because of early experiences.

Also I suspect because of growing up in a society that recognized “given” authority derived from birth or credentials, which I always found to have a hollow sound when tested if you know what I mean. When you’re eight, in an argument with an expert, and realize he missed some great big honking discrepancies in the data, you’re going to give authority the side eye forever. Being in a society that forces you to show outward compliance just gets you very salty and low-key mad forever.

But anyway, even I seemingly gave “people in charge” far more credit than they deserved. Than they ever deserved.

The questions I would pose about the credibility of any “authoritative” person or institution:
Who pronounced them an “authority” and what is THEIR own authority to do so?
How did the “authority” gain the expertise to serve in a specific field?
What are the boundaries of the “authority’s” control, and is the person or institution staying inside the lines?
Does the “authority” have biases that would influence them to act contrary to what their expertise (if genuine) should dictate?

When you’ve earned a breathing space you have to do more with it than just breathe.

That is really fine and worthy of remembrance.

Rufus, that was a fantastic thing to memorize in grade school! I think it works even better when read in a Boston accent, too.

A poem I memorized in second or third grade:

Higgelty piggelty,
Edward M. Kennedy
Quite unaccountably drove in a stream.
Pleas of amnesia,
Incomprehensible!
Possibly shattered political dreams.

It’s 2024, baby!

And Rohan will answer.

Steve (retired/recovering lawyer):

Love that!