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Just two months ago, commencement speakers sprouted throughout the republic. Without exception, they praised intelligence and competence. If the speakers had wanted their congregations to succeed in this country, though, they would have encouraged ignorance and incompetence.
A recent local example of successful ignorance is Larry Mizel, chairman of MDC Holdings, a large house-building company which took an interest in public affairs.
One aspect of this public-spirited attitude was that MDC encouraged its subcontractors to contribute to certain political campaigns. If the subcontractors did not donate, they lost MDC as a customer. If one did contribute, MDC arranged to reimburse the subcontractor.
Of course, Mizel had no idea that his company was running a shakedown and using the proceeds to buy elections. So he's still at the helm. Unfortunately, some of his underlings, those who were not ignorant of these shenanigans, face the unpleasant chore of dealing with indictments and federal prosecutors.
Suppose you're an attorney who would like to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court someday. Do you demonstrate your competence and intelligence by writing contentious articles in law reviews? If you're already a judge, do you deliver forceful and perceptive rulings?
No, because that would leave a paper trail that the U.S. Senate could use against you.
The more obscure and lackluster you are, the better your chance of getting nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. There may be a place for legal erudition in modern America, but the Supreme Court isn't that place.
As for the Senate, they're the people who approved a bloody but useless war in the Mideast. Awash in campaign contributions from thrift institutions, they merrily continued deregulation for a decade, and cheerfully approved budget after budget that continued the nation's slide to bankruptcy.
How does America punish this monumental inattention and incompetence? Each senator gets a $22,500 annual pay raise.
Look at the presidency. Because Ronald Reagan successfully claimed that he was totally ignorant of an illegal private foreign-policy operation that was run out from the White House, he still draws a handsome pension. The vice-president then was also wallowing in ignorance, so George Bush is President. At this moment, Dan Quayle is doubtless also staying ignorant so as not to hamper his chances of advancement.
As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss. Ignorance is also the best way to gain and keep power and money. If you want to be happy, powerful and rich in America, be stupid. It works better than anything they told you in a graduation speech.
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