Jordan Peterson, the popular and polarizing psychologist, is held in high esteem by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who has twice appeared on Peterson’s podcast, which draws millions of listeners worldwide.
A Tyee investigation has found that Smith’s admiration for Peterson went well beyond her affinity for him as a fellow conservative culture warrior.
Documents obtained through freedom of information request show that Smith, and her chief of staff, Rob Anderson, directly intervened with Alberta’s Advanced Education Ministry in an attempt to help Peterson’s higher-education business venture.
On Aug. 1, 2024, Smith met with Peterson “to discuss how his organization can work with the province to have their online training platform accredited.”
This guy probably was smart at one point; idiots don’t tend to become university professors. Of course that was years ago and he’s since gone completely off the rails. My guess is what started out as a calculated grift slowly became his actual worldview. Kinda like the “fake it 'till you make it” principle, but pointing in the wrong direction.
He’s always been like this.
Yeah, just like Russel Brand and other right wing grifters and also like billionaires exposed to be assholes, they were always assholes to begin with.
It’s insecurity. It’s always severe, crippling insecurity of one form or another. That’s what drives some people to get some semblance of control over their lives no matter how much the method hurts others.
Most people can hide it better than Peterson…he seems always on the edge of tears. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost.