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What Do Bernie Madoff, Elizabeth Holmes and Big Pharma Have in Common?
They show us that anyone can be duped — no matter how smart, rich, or powerful they are
“Isn’t it amazing how far decent people will go when they’re certain they’re right?” — Sam Waterston (“George Shultz”), “The Dropout”
I’ve been quiet for the past month because like many of you, I’ve been busy trying to process recent events. By the time I’ve digested one, an even more insane event presents itself. The world feels so chaotic, and the chaos seems to be increasing on an almost daily basis. It’s overwhelming.
But I’ve also been struggling with something else: a deep, deep disconnect and a growing sense of alienation. It’s as if we’ve all had a common point of reference all our lives — sanity — and over time that reference point has faded and disappeared. We can’t even seem to agree on what’s insane anymore.
I’ve been trying to pinpoint why this is happening, and I think it’s because a surprising number of people still trust and believe whatever experts and leaders in government and other institutions (a/k/a “smart” people) tell us. If “smart” people don’t see the insanity, then the people who trust them won’t see it, either.
