This blog’s old favourite, Tim Garton Ash, uses his column today to take the example of Silent Night, its fame and omnipresence, and conclude that the success or failure of such a thing, in fact of most things, is at least 50% luck. He’s quite possibly correct. If only he would understand that his musings on the triviality of why one carol succeeded and others of equal quality did not exemplify a greater point. For if luck is a major determinant of success, thn how can one plan? If serendipity rules, then what value the technocratic planner? What, therefore, is the value of a Europe where the actions of the huddled masses are directed by the wise men in Brussels?
In short, just as with the popularity of carols, economies and societies are chaotic, the butterfly’s wings can indeed bring about radical changes, and the entire philosophy of the wise and disinterested ruler is nonsense.
Bye Bye, European Union. What a joyous thought that is for the Christmas Season.
Economics, Carols and Garton Ass.
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One response
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Is Garton Ash not one of the most condescending and pessimistic men on the face of this earth? Could it be he just despises what he has done with his own life? What kind of person would discount any industrious human endeavor by giving 50 percent of the credit to hard work, inventiveness, love and determination, etc., and then credit the other 50 percent to pure chance? I can just hear the conversation when his kid brings home an A on his report card: “On the surface it appears you did a good job, Johnny, but you and I both know that you really earned a C, with half of that A owing to luck.” Telling somebody that as much as 50% of their worthwhile endeavor had nothing to do with their creativity or effort demonstrates a complete lack of faith, trust or encouragement for anything that has or could be achieved. Only a small and weak man could put posit such a viewpoint. He’s just depressing.
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