It seems to me that most "honours" - certainly national
ones - are
given to worthy individuals, not so
much to honour the recipient, but by association to bolster and enhance
the image and standing of the institution bestowing them.
If Britain's royal family orthe government were judged on their
own merits
they wouldn't look good at all, so cunningly, they use their power
(which they have in excess) to surround and associate themselves with
truly meritocratic individuals, with whom they and other selected, but
often quite unworthy persons, can mingle in public. It is what ruling
elites have been doing for centuries - naturally enough, making use of
their big "prime-ape" brains to retain and advance their own interests
in the socio-economic environment.
Why does the Guardian fall for this? Do you understand
so little
about the workings of the society you considers yourself professionally
competent to report and comment on? Or do you understand them well
enough to know that they are serving your own interests quite nicely too?
It seems to me that most "honours" - certainly national ones - are given to worthy individuals, not so much to honour the recipient, but by association to bolster and enhance the image and standing of the institution bestowing them.
If Britain's royal family orthe government were judged on their own merits they wouldn't look good at all, so cunningly, they use their power (which they have in excess) to surround and associate themselves with truly meritocratic individuals, with whom they and other selected, but often quite unworthy persons, can mingle in public. It is what ruling elites have been doing for centuries - naturally enough, making use of their big "prime-ape" brains to retain and advance their own interests in the socio-economic environment.
Why does the Guardian fall for this? Do you understand so little about the workings of the society you considers yourself professionally competent to report and comment on? Or do you understand them well enough to know that they are serving your own interests quite nicely too?