Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990) was a Canadian educator and “hierarchiologist” who is best known to the general public for the formulation of “THE PETER PRINCIPLE”. While we generally subscribe to the validity of this axiom, we do take the occasional diversion to admit that not all employees become incompetent as they are promoted. In fact, we believe a larger majority of promotions are given to those who actually can achieve success in higher positions of authority. However, we have witnessed and been subjected to many who are elevated into positions they are not prepared for, or have talent for, and soon find themselves way in over their head making multiple mistakes, often leading to increasing ineffectiveness of the organization. Take for example the individual in the lower portion of the picture above. Bob Gates, the former Defense Secretary in the Obama administration, once said of this person, a former Vice President of the United States, “I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue of the last four decades.” (theatlantic.com.) It was even reported by a Democrat who spoke with Obama that he once said, “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f . . . things up.” (cbs19news.com.) Ben Rhodes (former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting under Obama) said, “In the Situation Room, Biden could be something of an unguided missile.” (Wikipedia.) While the current occupant of the White House is obviously in over his head, he is only the tip of the ice burg when it comes to the cabinet of the current administration, and those who have found favor because of similar ideologies and agendas. But while we are on the subject of the current occupant of the White House, consider the continuing level of incompetence exhibited in the destruction of our Nation’s energy independence, and the ripple effects of our Nation’s retreat from Afghanistan, waving the flag of surrender encouraging the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In addition, consider Iran’s continued push for nuclear weapon systems, North Korea’s recent infatuation with missile launches, and the growing threat of China thirsting to swallow up Tiawan, all of this occurring as the current administration remains flat-footed, and in fact curiously ambivalent to these threats. Let’s add the failure to stop the illegal aliens pouring across our borders and the fentanyl killing our citizens coming from China through Mexican cartels and the rapes and sex trafficking the cartels promulgate while ravaging these people. Lastly, but certainly not finally, the current administration, under the incompetent tutelage of the current occupant of the White House, has spent our tax dollars in a reckless push to incentivize citizen laziness. The woke ideologies have thrust our Nation into a financial crisis where inflation is still over three-times higher than when they took control of our Nation’s levers of power over two years ago. The printing of money to pay for the felonious agendas in a futile effort to reduce the “non-rising” sea levels and stop the climatic changes that have been routine for centuries, leave less cash in your pockets while increasing trillions of dollars of debt for which the average American citizen is ultimately responsible. Incompetence exemplified. The ultimate proof that “THE PETER PRINCIPLE” is alive and well at the highest level in Washington D.C. The current occupant of the White House has proven he has no business being anywhere near the center of our National government, but unfortunately, he is.
Let’s for a moment consider other individuals near the power levers within our National government. The Vice President – proof that word salads really do exist. The U. S. Treasure Secretary – proved that the definition of “transitory inflation” really means inflation is long-term. The Secretary of Transportation – proved being the “Pothole Pete” mayor of a small town really doesn’t prepare someone to be responsible for the vast transportation infrastructure of our Nation. The Secretary of Homeland Security – proved that holding down a position effecting the security of our Nation doesn’t mean you actually have to control what is going on at our Nation’s borders. The Attorney General of the United States – proved that it’s possible to not be fit for the Supreme Court when attacking the opposing conservative national party is more important than attacking actual lawbreakers. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – proved that going behind a President’s back to let your enemy know of any potential action against them is the same as leaking Top Secret Compartmented Information. The Secretary of State – proved that taking a tongue lashing from China is an acceptable form of negotiation. The Secretary of Energy – proved that laughing about rising gas prices only applies to you. We could go on, but we think this partial list is enough to prove that many of the current government’s cabinet is filled with many who have proved that “THE PETER PRINCIPLE” is certainly alive and well in the center of our Nation’s government.
Now, we desire to move to a more general application of “THE PETER PRINCIPLE” being enforced upon our Nation’s citizens. We began our blog wanting to show a MERGER between “THE PETER PRINCIPLE” and “EQUITY”. The latter is a divergent application of policy that threatens the very fabric of our Nation. Nowhere in our Nation’s founding documents will you find a guaranty of “EQUITY”, which is defined as providing “equal outcomes”. Our Nation’s founding documents pursue the ideology of “EQUALITY”, which is defined as providing “equal opportunities”. When a government forces “equal outcomes”, the desire for personal achievement, advancement or progress is diminished. When all get “participation trophies”, there is no inherent desire to be the best or first, or to better one’s personal achievements. When “EQUITY” is pursued, many who are elevated to higher levels of responsibility and authority only succumb to “THE PETER PRINCIPLE”. “Under the laws enforced by EEOC [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission], it is illegal to discriminate against someone because of that person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.” (eeoc.gov.) Note that the underlying principle is defined by using the words “illegal to discriminate”. You will find that the law does not state that it is “legal to elevate or appoint” anyone because of the same identifying characteristics. Those currently in control of our National government have flipped this law on its head, and the result is evidenced in that positions of power are not awarded based upon an individual’s history, training, or capabilities, but based on an ideology that pursues EQUITY leading to the inevitable outcome as set forth in “THE PETER PRINCIPLE”.
Our Nation became a world power by giving EQUAL opportunity for citizens to achieve elevated social and financial status. There was the pursuit for improvement, perfection, and a drive to invent, develop, and produce. The FREEDOM and LIBERTY provided by this Nation to its citizens allowed for the rapid advancement of our Nation in nearly every area. Unfortunately, with our current leadership, and the executive orders thrust upon us, the incentives once available no longer exist. If you desire to continue to live in a nation that treasures FREEDOM and LIBERTY, then you must resist the absurd forces that elevate the weak and unprepared, who claim the false right of EQUITY, who will only in the end, once again, prove the disastrous effects and the eventual MERGER with “THE PETER PRINCIPLE”.