"Excellence is unifying."   — Vivek Ramaswamy, GOP Convention (@3:32)   We live in two alternate universes. One emphasizes equity , pursuing an elusive equality of results (all athletes finishing first at the exact same time). That’s communism — to each, according to his needs — a goal out there, never to be reached. But this exalted pursuit justifies elite rule, a hierarchy of the chosen, guiding the hoi polloi to a better future.  Formal hierarchies are as old as Mesopotamia (6000 years). This first universe, ruled by believers in Isaiah Berlin-like positive freedom , would have us accept hierarchy where creme rises to the top. Progressives — Democrats — are comfortable with hierarchy: Plato’s philosopher kings, Catholic pope and cardinal rule in the 500 to 1500 AD millennial Age of Faith, the 20th Century’s Soviet nomankatura or New Class. And now pursuit of affirmative action or DEI (diversity, equity , inclusion).  The other universe includes peo...

Harvard is America’s first university, founded in 1636, shortly after Pilgrims first arrived in Massachusetts. On a blank slate, Harvard chose to etch the simple but profound word, “Truth.” Veritas links to the 9th Commandment, “Don’t lie.”          “For although the act condemns the doer, the end may justify him…”   — Niccolò Machiavelli, Discourses: I, 9   Profound it may be, “Don’t lie” is often disregarded, easily broken. Truth takes issue with Machiavelli’s 1517 teaching that “the ends justify the means”  In America’s battle for votes, Veritas routinely loses to, in the words of Democratic strategist Chris Lehane, “All’s fair in love, war and politics.”  Then there are "White Lies.” Modern psychology seems to defend them. Here, from the website VerywellMind , “white lie” help for those troubled by guilt:  The adage that you always should tell the truth is mostly right, but in some situations fibs or white lies ...