Despots and tyrants desire power and control above all else. It is an obsession, their One Ring, their “Precious One.” This never-ending thirst for control manifests itself in many ways, from the bold plans of power-hungry rulers to the cunning maneuvers of ideological fanatics.
And now they have a new weapon in their arsenal: Brain Capital.
Take, for example, the recent resignation of Harvard University President Claudine Gay. While her resignation may seem like just an administrative change to some, the reaction on the left tells a different story. The confusion and gnashing of teeth over Gay's expulsion is not about her keeping her position as a professor or her hefty $900,000 salary. Rather, the real “tragedy”, according to the left, lies in the loss of prestige, power, and control.
However, even if the left licks its wounds and regroups, it will not cede control. Their allies hurl derogatory words and insults at their opponents while strategizing their next move. In their eyes, they are trying to achieve absolute control.
I recently shared a video of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Secretary Jen Easterly on Glenn Beck's TV and radio show. hint On the next frontier for advancing the left agenda. She emphasized the importance of “cognitive infrastructure” and said it was important for “resilience”. This is a subtle nod to the growing Brain Capital movement.
“Brain Capital” defined 'Brain skills, knowledge and optimal health that people accumulate throughout their lives' by lead scientist Harris Eyre and colleagues is touted as a tool to further advance the agenda of the United Nations and the World Economic Forum. I am. In November 2023, Eyre said at the Wharton School: meeting, “We need a new economic asset called brain capital, and we value it in the United States as being as important as GDP and as important as road infrastructure.''
Advocates like Eyre say brain capital is under siege from threats such as “climate change” and “disinformation.” The solution, they argue, lies in regulating and controlling individuals using standards set by academia and distant bureaucrats.
In recent years, brain capital has been touted as the key to realizing the Great Reset and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Supporter advocate They are embedded in frameworks such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, effectively exposing every aspect of life to bureaucratic scrutiny.
Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy went so far as to publish a paper titled: How brain capital can drive progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In it, the authors propose collecting extensive data on students, promoting activism, and enforcing ideological conformity in schools under the guise of promoting mental health and cultivating brain capital. .
I can hardly imagine a more misguided agenda being set for our schools.
Even as American public schools struggle to teach basic skills like reading and math, they are becoming part of the brain capital agenda.companies like coos digital healthis already an active actor in the brain capital movement. embedded We are also at school. For example, California has agreed to: $188 million contract With service now available throughout the state, Pennsylvania maneuver Kooth is offered in 30 school districts.
To make matters worse, Brain Capital supporters are now seeking to extend their influence to the federal level. defend Towards the establishment of the “White House Brain Capital Council.” This proposed secretariat is adjust policy It effectively concentrates power in the hands of a chosen few, across areas from human development to immigration to climate change. (Related: Judge Andrew P. Napolitano: Can the government regulate 'harmful' speech?)
This agenda represents a massive assault on individual autonomy and freedom, replacing it with a web of regulations and obligations. If those who desire absolute power control the policy-making process under the guise of “brain capital,'' they can control everything.
But there is hope. From parents attending school board meetings to billionaires taking on corrupt practices at Ivy League universities, critical race theory, queer theory, DEI, ESG, and other bullying tactics are being used across the country. The backlash has put leftists and neo-Marxists on the defensive. They understand that the battle against brain capital is not just a matter of education and economics, but a battle for the soul of the nation.
We must reject the idea that academics and bureaucrats know what is best for individuals and restore trust in the American people. Only then can we protect our freedom.
Rhyen Staley is a researcher at Parents Defending Education. He has a master's degree in elementary education and has over 10 years of teaching experience in both public and private schools.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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