Collaboration Trumps Collusion
Now Trump, Let Me Spell this Out For You
A quiet, minimalist space materializes under a single soft light. At its center stands Sophia, her gaze fixed forward as if addressing someone just beyond view. Seated comfortably around her are several figures.
Sophia: Donald, sit down. We need to talk. I’ve brought some people who have spent their lives observing the very things you seem to find so baffling. We’re going to spell a few things out for you, nice and slow. Let’s start with the basics. John, would you do the honors?
No one wants advice - only corroboration.
— John Steinbeck (1902-1968)
John: (A novelist with a deep understanding of the human heart, he leans forward, his voice gentle but firm) The first thing you must understand is that when people come to you, they aren’t looking for a map. They’re looking for a mirror. They don't want you to challenge their beliefs; they want you to amplify them. They crave the comfort of hearing their own quiet whispers shouted back at them from a grand stage. You call it leadership; it’s mostly just corroboration.
Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so.
— Bertrand Russell's (1872-1970)
Sophia: And why is that, Bertrand? Why the desperation for agreement?
Bertrand: (A philosopher, sharp and unsparing in his logic, he sighs with a flicker of impatience in his eyes) Because, my dear Sophia, the alternative is exhausting. To truly think, to question, to analyze… it is the hardest work a person can do. Most will do anything to avoid it. It is far, far easier to march in lockstep with a crowd, even if that crowd is marching straight off a cliff. In fact, historically speaking, they very often do.
Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half.
— Gore Vidal (1925-2012)
Sophia: So we have a populace that seeks validation because it is easier than thinking. Gore, how does this play out in the arena you knew so well?
Gore: (A writer and political commentator with a cynical wit, a wry smile plays on his lips) You end up with a fascinating political arithmetic. You see, a vast number of your countrymen don't engage with the news, and a vast number don't participate in choosing their leader. One can only hold onto the fragile hope that it’s the same group of people. The problem arises when the deliberately uninformed are motivated to act, lending their unthinking power to the highest bidder.
The next time some academics tell you how important diversity is, ask how many Republicans there are in their sociology department.
— Thomas Sowell (1930-present)
Sophia: And this brings us to the institutions that are meant to foster thought. Thomas?
Thomas: (An economist who sees the world in systems and incentives, he adjusts his glasses, his tone academic but sharp) Yes. The great irony of our age. You hear the word ‘diversity’ everywhere, as if it’s a sacred incantation. But it’s a curiously selective sort of diversity. The next time you find yourself in a room full of people who pride themselves on their open-mindedness, ask them how many of their colleagues hold fundamentally different political views. You will find their vaunted diversity is often just a collection of people who look different but think exactly the same. They build echo chambers and call them universities.
Sophia: So, we have a feedback loop. People who don't want to think, celebrated by institutions that don't allow for dissent. It all looks very impressive—the rallies, the slogans, the academic pronouncements. Steve, you were always good at seeing past the surface. Bring it home for us.
Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.
— Steve Jobs (1955-2011)
Steve: (A visionary obsessed with function and form, he speaks simply, with an almost startling clarity) People get distracted by the aesthetics, by the show. They argue about the logo, the color, the font. That’s all meaningless. It’s not about the presentation. It’s not about the feeling you get at a rally or the slickness of an ad. That’s just the casing. The only question that matters is: How does it work? Does the product actually function for the user? Is the country, the system, the government you’ve built making people’s lives better, simpler, more efficient? Or is it just a beautiful, empty box that crashes every time you try to run an application? Because if it doesn’t work, the rest is just decoration.
Sophia: (She turns her gaze back to the unseen Donald) So, there you have it. You’re not leading people to a new truth; you’re echoing what they already believe because it’s easier than thinking. You harness the power of the disengaged, all within a culture that champions diversity of appearance but not of thought. And you’ve built something that looks powerful, but you’ve forgotten to ask if the design actually works.
(The silence hangs in the air for a moment.)
Sophia: Class dismissed.
The planksip Writers' Cooperative is proud to sponsor an exciting article rewriting competition where you can win part of over $750,000 in available prize money.
Figures of Speech Collection Personified
Our editorial instructions for your contest submission are simple: incorporate the quotes and imagery from the above article into your submission.
What emerges is entirely up to you!
Winners receive $500 per winning entry multiplied by the article's featured quotes. Our largest prize is $8,000 for rewriting the following article;
Heraclitus
At planksip, we believe in changing the way people engage—at least, that's the Idea (ἰδέα). By becoming a member of our thought-provoking community, you'll have the chance to win incredible prizes and access our extensive network of media outlets, which will amplify your voice as a thought leader. Your membership truly matters!