Liz Truss

[Bodicoteblue]

This is something that I struggle with, as Truss does come across as being deeply stupid to me too, for the simple reason that she makes assertions which are self-evidently false or that can be subjected to a swift process of empirical trituration.

Having taught quite a number of sixth-formers who went on to study at Oxford, one thing that I can state quite unequivocally is that none of them, not one, would have come out with the kind of nonsense that she does. They were invariably of much higher calibre. They were also pretty well-rounded, could engage in highly sophisticated critical thinking, and were capable of empathy, of seeing the world from someone else's point of view.

So I find it hard to explain her lack of competence and ineptitude.

Could be because the Oxford PPE course ends up being too superficial because three subjects are studied rather than one? Or is it sometimes the case that those who graduate with this degree are so in thrall to a particular ideology that they cannot see the wood for the trees? Or could it be the case - as Ian Hughes has persuasively argued - that politics these days attracts more than its fair share of characters who are pathologically narcissistic, or even exhibit psychopathic traits?

I only wish I knew. But anyway, the following links may provide some clues:

How an Oxford degree – PPE – created a robotic governing class

If graduates from an architecture school designed buildings that were unfit for human habitation or doctors from a university’s medical faculty left death in their wake, their teachers would worry. The graduates of Oxford’s Politics, Philosophy and Economics course form the largest single...

www.spectator.co.uk

PPE: the Oxford degree that runs Britain

The Long Read: An extraordinary number of Britain’s elite studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford. But does it produce an out-of-touch ruling class?

www.theguardian.com

Being incompetent, inept and being pathologically narcissistic do seem to be almost requirements to succeed in politics.
Alexander depfeffel wore his faults and traits like a badge of honour. In fact he made them into endearing personality flaws, as witnessed by those who voted for and supported him with the bizarre claim that he was ‘just like us’ because he was, well, incompetent, inept and pathologically narcissistic.
I don’t think the dreadful truss woman is far behind.

 

[Saddleworth2]

This is something that I struggle with, as Truss does come across as being deeply stupid to me too, for the simple reason that she makes assertions which are self-evidently false or that can be subjected to a swift process of empirical trituration.

Having taught quite a number of sixth-formers who went on to study at Oxford, one thing that I can state quite unequivocally is that none of them, not one, would have come out with the kind of nonsense that she does. They were invariably of much higher calibre. They were also pretty well-rounded, could engage in highly sophisticated critical thinking, and were capable of empathy, of seeing the world from someone else's point of view.

So I find it hard to explain her lack of competence and ineptitude.

Could be because the Oxford PPE course ends up being too superficial because three subjects are studied rather than one? Or is it sometimes the case that those who graduate with this degree are so in thrall to a particular ideology that they cannot see the wood for the trees? Or could it be the case - as Ian Hughes has persuasively argued - that politics these days attracts more than its fair share of characters who are pathologically narcissistic, or even exhibit psychopathic traits?

I only wish I knew. But anyway, the following links may provide some clues:

How an Oxford degree – PPE – created a robotic governing class

If graduates from an architecture school designed buildings that were unfit for human habitation or doctors from a university’s medical faculty left death in their wake, their teachers would worry. The graduates of Oxford’s Politics, Philosophy and Economics course form the largest single...

www.spectator.co.uk

PPE: the Oxford degree that runs Britain

The Long Read: An extraordinary number of Britain’s elite studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford. But does it produce an out-of-touch ruling class?

www.theguardian.com

Good post mate. I struggle with it too. Normally at least such a course would give a veneer of intellect. In her case not though. My point is, even to be accepted on such a course must require some success at a-level, not normally associated with a stupid person. I tend towards the ’personality types’ and the group think towards a particular political philosophy. Johnson behaves like an imbecile bit again if you tested his IQ I’m sure it would be higher than average.

 

[Zuriblue]

 

[TheBlueDune]

Good post mate. I struggle with it too. Normally at least such a course would give a veneer of intellect. In her case not though. My point is, even to be accepted on such a course must require some success at a-level, not normally associated with a stupid person. I tend towards the ’personality types’ and the group think towards a particular political philosophy. Johnson behaves like an imbecile bit again if you tested his IQ I’m sure it would be higher than average.

Average IQ compared to the population? Just has to be greater than 100, not difficult even for Boris.
Average IQ compared to politicians? Don't know what that average is, probably around 120-125.

Being clever - knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Being intelligent - knowing that a tomato does not belong in a fruit salad.

 

[lust overlord]

It’s simpler than that in that she doesn’t actually believe in anything, save for some convoluted idea about the ‘free market’. It is something that affects more and more of our politicians and not in a good way.
They flip flop about, not actually believing in anything, just being slaves to the latest focus group. I suspect she seems a bit thick because she’s always trying to say what she thinks people want to hear. She’s gone from card carrying Liberal Democrat, through to member of Reform, co-written that dreadful book, fervent supporter of Remain to an unequivocal supporter of Brexit. She’s one of the very few of the latter to get a job under Johnson, which suggests that particular Damascene conversion is her final position and, although you’d hope that practicality will outweigh ideology, it rarely does, sadly.

In short both Truss and Sunak are weasels.

 

[Vic]

In short both Truss and Sunak are weasels.

They're Diesels.

(C) Thomas the Tank Engine

 

[Gabriel]

 

[Kevinblue10]

Average IQ compared to the population? Just has to be greater than 100, not difficult even for Boris.
Average IQ compared to politicians? Don't know what that average is, probably around 120-125.

Being clever - knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Being intelligent - knowing that a tomato does not belong in a fruit salad.

think average iq for present day politicians more like 115 now...there are some seriously stupid ones around...may have been around 125 30 years ago

 

[mat]

How long does a new Tory bastard leader get before a vote of no confidence can be put in?

Instaliz might not last until Christmas.

 

[Kirkstall Blue]

God help us all if she gets the top job she will turns us all into a slave workforce
Hope the other fella gets it now

 

[NPBlue]

God help us all if she gets the top job she will turns us all into a slave workforce
Hope the other fella gets it now

This sort of attitude makes my blood boil. It's a lack of investment by directors that prevents productivity increasing, not lazy workers, a situation UK companies have been righfully accused of for decades.

Another take on Liz Truss.

 

[bluethrunthru]

 

[Zuriblue]

 

[mayo31]

God help us all if she gets the top job she will turns us all into a slave workforce
Hope the other fella gets it now

Are some already not as you say in a slave workforce

Loads go to work and what they are paid does not cover their living costs

So they then have to go foodbanks where no doubt those better off donate

Like queueing up for more as Oliver Twist said

 

[BrianW]

When I am in a cynical mood (which is about 95% of the time) I wonder whether today's loopy Tory leaders are actually secret Marxists attempting to bring about a revolution. It would explain a great deal.

I mean, there's stupid, and then there's Liz Truss, who makes Henry VI look like an accomplished leader of men.

This country is in a very scary place, have no doubt about that. I don't think Truss has anything like the skills needed to steer us through it. It's like having the boatman from Heaton Park as Admiral of the American Fleet at Midway. She is to governance what Brunel was to dancing on ice.

 

[Kevinblue10]

Truss will likely be a complete disaster...Still if she bungs the oldies some goodies they will trot out and vote conservative again

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Truss will likely be a complete disaster...Still if she bungs the oldies some goodies they will trot out and vote conservative again

If they make it through the winter.

 

[East Level 2]

Truss will likely be a complete disaster...Still if she bungs the oldies some goodies they will trot out and vote conservative again

I'm an oldie (65) and I'll accept any goodies she's offering, but I won't vote Tory as long as I've a hole in my arse.
Hope she doesn't read this as I still want the goodies.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I'm an oldie (65) and I'll accept any goodies she's offering, but I won't vote Tory as long as I've a hole in my arse.
Hope she doesn't read this as I still want the goodies.

If you tell her she’s wrong personally, she’ll u-turn for you, or anyone else.

If you tell her she’s wrong, you've more chance of getting her “goodies”.

 

[NPBlue]

I'm an oldie (65) and I'll accept any goodies she's offering, but I won't vote Tory as long as I've a hole in my arse.
Hope she doesn't read this as I still want the goodies.

Her ideology, if you can't manage, is have some graft and get a second job, and tough shit if the coming depression means there aren't any jobs.

The problem I have with Truss is she will say anything if it means career advancement. It is impossible to understand whare her core values lie because there are so many conflicts in her public statements. She said she wanted her children to grow up in a green and pleasant land free from pollution, which our membership of the EU guranteed us. She was an arch remainer, but agreed to water companies discharging raw effluent into rivers and onto beaches, which is fine and dandy now she is an arch leaver and we are free from the shackles of the EUSSR.

That's just one example of the confusion in her head, and it's a confusion based on a lack of conviction.

I wouldn't read much into anything she is saying at the moment. Lizzie the Lathe is currently saying what she thinks the 150,000 members of her party want to hear.