Troublemakers: Our Favourite Mavericks and Wildcats
Key Humans #1
Intellectual Goal Tenders
In this day and age of lemmings, we need the contrarians, explorers, skeptics and outsiders to defend our “Net”, our “End”, our domains. Our last line of defence must make the stop if we hope to push back and take the ball up the pitch. They are our society’s “Goal Keepers”.
Our mavericks buck against the system, sniffing out the group think and global elite propaganda. Our wildcats explore new areas, that are often the future replacements for conventional, mediocre thinkers. These individuals work from the outside, risking the displeasure of the current “Princes” that got their kingdoms through the graces of others (bootlickers), or worst, via nefarious means (criminals).
Like the tenders in Hockey, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Water Polo and Football, they are the last line of defence. In our Western Democracies, the football pitch is covered with B players (politicians, crony capitalists and outright cheaters) for the other team. The other team owns the referees, force us to play a man down and get all the corner kicks.
The game is rigged, the dice are loaded (thank you Leonard Cohen for the great song). The freedom seeking collective knows that, the elitist opposition knows that and the referees are happy to look the other way. Only in the Western Democracies, do we have killing machines roaming the roadways with full government support and subsidies. How many so called “Full Self-Driving” cars are there in Moscow, Tehran, Caracas or Pongyang?
Unfortunately, it has taken since 2016 to get to this point, with a number of fatalities in between. According to ABC on Oct 21, 2024:
“NHTSA initiated the investigation after four crashes involving (redacted) vehicles with FSD engaged during low-visibility conditions, such as sun glare, fog, or airborne dust. One of these crashes resulted in a pedestrian fatality, while another involved a reported injury.”
The actual number of fatalities continue to grow, with numerous incidents where cars crashed into police and emergency vehicles. Sounds like the movie trailers for two 1970’s schlock classics, “The Car” and “Killdozer”.
So raise a glass and toast our list of people willing to prove we are surrounded by naked Emperors and an army of “Three Card Monty Players”. In no particular order, these are the writers, thinkers and scientists that are looking out for you.
1. Matt Taibbi
Matt Taibbi’s journalistic efforts focus on exposing the corruption and hypocrisy within powerful institutions, particularly in finance, politics and the media. His investigative journalism reveals how these entities manipulate public perception, often serving corporate and elite interests at the expense of ordinary people. His work reminds me of the importance of transparency and accountability—values that are crucial being both a historian and a scientist.
Key Works: Griftopia, I Can’t Breathe, Hate Inc.
Internet Presence: Racket News. America This Week podcast.
2. Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Nassim Taleb’s philosophy resonates with many people in science and finance, emphasizing the need to embrace uncertainty and the limitations of predictive models. Taleb argues that traditional approaches fail to account for "Black Swan" events—those rare, unpredictable shocks that shape history. His concept of "Antifragility" champions systems that benefit from disorder, a principle as seen play out in financial markets and energy systems. Taleb, supports decentralized, resilient structures over fragile, overly optimized ones.
Key Works: Fooled by Randomness, Black Swan, Skin in the Game, Antifragile.
Internet Presence: fooledbyrandomness.com
3. David Collum
Dave Collum’s philosophy aligns with logical skepticism of mainstream narratives and the unchecked power of institutions. Collum is a sharp critic of financial systems, central banks, and political structures, often highlighting their inherent fragility and corruption. His approach reflects a healthy distrust of groupthink and a call for independent thought. Professor Collum questions the dominant trends, whether in markets or government, and recognizing that those in power often mislead others for their own gain. His realist, contrarian view mirrors my belief in resilience and self-reliance amid systemic risks. What else can you say about a polymath who rubs shoulders with Nobel Laureates and Upstate New York dairy farmers on a regular basis?
Key Works: A large number of important scientific publications, Annual Review,
Internet Presence: Various Free Podcasts as the Guest.
4. Walter Kirn
Walter Kirn’s philosophy reflects a deep skepticism of modern culture and the narratives that shape our perceptions. He peels back the layers of American life, exposing the absurdities and contradictions in everything from media to politics. Kirn’s ability to dissect human behaviour, often with dark humor, resonates with my own view of how societal trends are shaped by superficiality and groupthink. Princeton educated, Kirns writing teaches us that we must critically analyze the stories we’re told and avoid becoming passive consumers of mainstream ideology.
Key Works: Thumbsucker, Up in the Air, Lost in the Meritocracy.
Internet Presence: America This Week podcast, contributing editor to Time.
5. Lawrence Fossi
Lawrence Fossi was a commercial trial lawyer for three decades and then a family office portfolio manager for another decade. He graduated from Rice University and Yale Law School. He began his public writing career about the legal entanglements of Tesla and Elon Musk. He published his critiques of Tesla on Seeking Alpha, meticulously examining the actual economics of BEV production, which involve government credits, government incentives, and an imbalance between receivables and payables.
In 2018, evidently upset with Fossi’s writings about Tesla, Musk phoned Fossi’s boss to have him dismissed summarily (which did not happen). More importantly, the legal actions involving Twitter and Tesla have created curiosity about the Delaware courts, the final arbiter in many business disputes. Fossi and others have become the “Play by Play Commentators”, opening the curtain on this important part of our economic system.
Internet Presence: Lawrence Fossi’s Substack, Numerous Podcasts
6. Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis is an American author known for his insightful and engaging exploration of complex financial and social issues. His writing style is characterized by its clarity, wit, and ability to make intricate topics accessible to a wide audience. Lewis's works often delve into the world of high finance, exposing the quirks, eccentricities, and often questionable practices of those who operate within it. His books offer a glimpse into the inner workings of financial services and professional sports.
Key Works: Liar’s Poker, The Big Short, Flash Boys, Moneyball
Internet Presence: michaellewiswrites.com
7. John Gray
John Gray is a British philosopher and author known for his critical analysis of modern thought and society. Gray's pessimistic and critical take on human progress and utopian ideals is a critique of technocrats and overconfidence in human knowledge. His works often challenge conventional wisdom and explore the limitations of progress and human reason. Gray's writing style is characterized by its clarity, wit, and provocative insights, in particular on the works of Joseph Conrad and Friedrich Hayek.
Works: Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals, The Silence of Animals, The New Leviathans: Thoughts After Liberalism.
Internet Presence: Many Podcasts via BBC, newstatesman.com
8. Thomas Sowell
Tom Sowell offers deep critiques of government intervention, intellectual elitism, and economic fallacies, resonating with the skepticism toward experts. As a distinguished economist and social theorist, is renowned for his conservative perspective and emphasis on empirical evidence. Sowell advocates for free-market principles, limited government intervention, and individual responsibility. He is a prolific author, exploring the impact of intellectual ideas on societal outcomes.
Key Works: Basic Economics, Intellectuals and Society, Black Rednecks and White Liberals
Internet Presence: tsowell.com
9. Chris Hedges
Chris Hedges, a New England product of Loomis Chaffee and Harvard, is one of my favourite “Class Traitors”. If you saw him walking down the streets of Washington, D.C., you would think he was the typical privileged elite, which couldn’t be further from the truth. He has dedicated his career to digging for the truth and helping the marginalized. Chris Hedges thoroughly critiques corporatism, the militarization of society, and the erosion of democratic institutions. He brings a journalistic focus on systemic corruption, which he states often has been a plague to human development for centuries.
Key Works: Death of the Liberal Class, Empire of Illusion, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
Internet Presence: ChrisLHedges.com, chrishedges.substack.com
Conclusion
Hopefully, you get a chance to read some of the works by these outstanding people. In today’s world, where truth is not a virtue and deceit leads to financial success, we badly need the defenders. We are all only one grift away from personal and financial disaster.