Jordan Peterson’s School Isn’t Accredited. Smith Offered Alberta’s Help | The Tyee (thetyee.ca)

submitted 5 days ago by HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works to c/canada@lemmy.ca

21 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.”

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works 10 points 5 days ago

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.

[-] MyMindIsLikeAnOcean@piefed.world 6 points 5 days ago

He’s always been like this.

[-] undeffeined@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago

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.

[-] athairmor@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago

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.