American Brain Drain

It isn’t an accident. It’s the plan.

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I’ve started getting this question from readers: Should they consider leaving the US, or under what conditions would I recommend it? Many Americans, who might be able to relocate to another country, struggle with the tension of wanting to stay and fight and wanting a safer and/or easier life. They struggle with having the privilege at all, how much responsibility they have towards those who don’t, and what will happen to them as America’s decline continues. I never have a good answer for anyone thinking about this, but I do appreciate that readers see me as a trusted source of information and a thought partner here.

Of course, I don’t have an easy answer. I can’t tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t do, and I think there are valid reasons to make either choice if you have one. That’s probably not a satisfying answer, but it’s the best I can come up with when people ask.

By now, you’ve probably heard that three Yale professors who are experts on fascism are leaving the US for the University of Toronto, including On Tyranny author Timothy Snyder. The New York Times published a video op-ed from these professors, ostensibly about their decision to leave, but more offering their final words of warning for the rest of us. It’s a chilling but worthwhile watch. However, you feel about their collective choices, I do hope people take their view of where America is and what the future could look like seriously. As well as their advice on how to push back.

It’s worth remembering that these professors weren’t forced to leave. A Canadian university successfully poached them. The reality is that many Americans with the ability will choose to leave over the next few years. Some will be forced for political and cultural reasons, needing to keep themselves and their families safe. But many others will simply choose to live in places where their considerable talents and contributions will be appreciated, especially as other nations and institutions outside the US are already working to recruit our best and brightest.

Not too long ago, America benefited from the brain drain of fascism and the political instability of other nations. I studied classical music in college, and many of my professors originally came from other countries, fleeing fascism and other forms of repressive government. Part of the reason America was able to dominate so many fields of study in academia, athletics, business, and the arts and culture is because so many of the world’s best and brightest came to us. American culture has never been our own but a collaboration of those who were forced to come here against their will, those who came for political reasons, and those who chose to come.

Now the reverse is happening. It’ll be a long, slow, painful process of those with means making the choice to leave -- many because of enticing offers from other parts of the world. The loss will be incalculable.

This is all by design, of course. The tech oligarchs, led by Curtis Yarvin, wanted a dark enlightenment where our institutions (which Yarvin referred to as ‘cathedrals’) fell. The goal was to tear America’s institutions to shreds, strip them for parts, and then rule over us as modern monarchs. In the short term, it’s hard not to argue that Yarvin and his acolytes have won.

In the video, Timothy Snyder makes the point that while people are frustrated with Democrats, his call to action is, “If you want the Democrats to do things, you have to create the platform for them. You have to create spectacle, the pageantry, the positive energy, the physical place where they can come to you.” That resonated with me, probably because it’s what I’ve felt all along. We can’t count on elected officials to lead in this moment. We have to pressure them to lead and do their jobs.

I also think Snyder’s advice is good when thinking about elites of all stripes and institutions as well. Pressure matters. Seeing people fight the regime in a myriad of ways matters. It helps those who are vulnerable feel less afraid and alone. It gives those who might leave hope and potentially a reason to stay. My view of America’s likely future might be bleak, but I still believe our families and communities are worth fighting for.