Vivek Ramaswamy's Cultural Critique: A Call for Excellence or Divisive Rhetoric?

Vivek Ramaswamy is stirring the MAGA pot

On December 26, 2023, Vivek Ramaswamy, entrepreneur and author of Woke, Inc., posted a provocative message on X (insert obligatory formerly Twitter), sparking debate across the political spectrum. The message centered on American culture’s decline, especially within the realms of education, work ethic, and intellectual achievement. Ramaswamy contends that top tech companies prefer to hire foreign-born and first-generation engineers not due to any innate IQ advantage but because of what he deems a cultural difference—immigrants often bring a work ethic that values excellence over mediocrity. He paints American culture, particularly since the 1990s, as one that has increasingly celebrated "normalcy" via the cool guy trope, at the expense of excellence.

Today, we’ll dive into Ramaswamy’s critique, the varying responses from both MAGA-aligned politicians and the broader public, and the implications of his argument for American culture and politics.

Ramaswamy's Cultural Critique: Key Arguments

Ramaswamy's central thesis is clear: American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for too long. This cultural shift, according to him, began in the 1990s and has since permeated every level of American life, from pop culture to education. Ramaswamy identifies this as a key reason why foreign-born engineers tend to outperform their American counterparts in the highly competitive tech industry.

Main Points in the Post:

Cultural Priorities: Ramaswamy argues that American culture celebrates social status and popularity (e.g., the prom queen, the jock, TV characters like Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell) over intellectual achievement and work ethic (e.g., the math olympiad champion). He points to his experience knowing immigrant families who limited their children’s exposure to TV shows that promoted mediocrity, resulting in these children becoming successful in STEM fields.

Systemic vs. Cultural Factors: Ramaswamy firmly rejects the idea that native-born Americans lack the intellectual capacity for success in fields like engineering. Instead, he attributes the lack of competitiveness to cultural values that prioritize leisure, conformity, and social recognition over hard work, intellectual curiosity, and achievement.

A Call for Cultural Revival: He urges America to refocus on excellence, hard work, and academic achievement. Drawing on the metaphor of the Sputnik moment, he suggests that just as America awakened to the need for scientific and technological advancement after the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, the U.S. must now wake up to a cultural shift that will ensure it remains competitive on the world stage, particularly with rising powers like China and their Tiger Mothers.

Rhetorical Strategy: Ramaswamy uses nostalgia, invoking the 1990s pop culture as emblematic of a cultural era that celebrated the popular kids and bad boy anti-heros. He juxtaposes this with more disciplined, rigorous models of upbringing, which he claims immigrant families often follow and their resulting successes reflect.

Responses from MAGA Politicos: Divisive or Unifying?

Ramaswamy’s post has generated a variety of reactions from fellow MAGA-aligned figures and commentators. For the most part, the responses reflect his argument that American culture is in decline, but they also reveal some underlying tensions within the conservative movement.

Supportive Reactions:

Cultural Critique and the Return to Excellence: For many in conservative circles, particularly those who advocate for a stronger focus on STEM education, Ramaswamy’s post is seen as spot-on. They argue that America needs a cultural renaissance that prioritizes intellectual achievement, dedication, and merit. Conservative figures, such as Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk, have often echoed similar sentiments about the degradation of American education and its overemphasis on social issues at the expense of academic rigor.

Ramaswamy’s framing of the issue in cultural terms—using pop culture references like Friends and Saved by the Bell—also resonates with many who feel that entertainment has, in some ways, become a distraction from more serious pursuits. They see this as part of the broader “culture wars” and a call for a return to values that elevate intellectual pursuit, rather than what they perceive as an emphasis on social inclusion, entertainment, and political correctness.

Reinforcement of Nationalism and Meritocracy: Ramaswamy’s critique of American culture aligns well with the nationalist, meritocratic ideals espoused by MAGA figures. Many see his post as an urgent call to return to an America that values hard work, intellectual excellence, and achievement, mirroring the rhetoric of former President Donald Trump’s America First agenda.

Some conservative commentators have used his message as a springboard to advocate for educational reforms that would emphasize intellectual rigor over social or cultural pursuits. Traditional conservatives may tend to agree that parents who prioritize the success of their children--without pesky and overreaching DEI interference-- will benefit America the most.

Celebration of Immigrant Contributions: A key point that resonates with many within the MAGA base is his celebration of immigrant contributions to the American workforce, especially in STEM fields. Ramaswamy’s argument that immigrant parents foster discipline and intellectual drive provides a positive spin on immigration, often seen in opposition to the more hardline immigration policies within the MAGA movement. By elevating immigrant work ethic, Ramaswamy underscores their role in America's technological prowess. This is a big "I see you" moment for Indian and Latino-Americans that made big pushes in favor of Trump.

Criticism from MAGA Figures:

Overgeneralization of American Families: Some within the MAGA movement have criticized Ramaswamy for oversimplifying the cultural dynamics at play. By framing American families as “normal” and “mediocre,” he may alienate those working-class and rural voters who see their own dedication to hard work and success dismissed by such a generalization. For example, critics might argue that many working-class American families may not prioritize status by educational attainment. Hard work and resilience are still emphasized, if they do not fit Ramaswamy’s ideal of the six-figure FAANG engineer success story. There is definitely more than whiff of elitism at play here, which is alienating to MAGA's lower and middle class rather outspoken fanbase, as well as those politicians that speak to this voter almost exclusively.

Immigration vs. Nationalism Debate: Ramaswamy's comments have tapped into a broader debate within the MAGA movement about cultural identity, immigration, and what constitutes American values. His critique has not only highlighted internal rifts, but also showcased the complexity of aligning conservative cultural critique with pro-immigration stances for economic growth. The backlash suggests that while there might be some support for his economic arguments, the cultural aspect of his critique is seen by many as too abrasive or misaligned with MAGA's core narrative of American exceptionalism and cultural pride.

Criticism from Liberals and Progressives:

On the other side of the ideological spectrum, many liberals and progressives have pushed back against Ramaswamy’s assertions. Critics argue that his argument oversimplifies the real structural issues that contribute to America’s lagging performance in areas like math, science, and technology. In particular:

Systemic Issues in Education: Critics point out that inequality in education is a far more significant factor than cultural values. They argue that many American students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, simply lack the resources, access, and support to excel in STEM fields. Ramaswamy’s focus on cultural values ignores these systemic inequities, such as funding disparities between schools in wealthy versus impoverished areas, or the Republican-backed parent's choice initiatives. Many responses by and large to Ramaswamy include robust finger snapping in a bid for him to make good on this stance via public education investments. Academic rigor and excellence as a culture value, happens to be the very same institutions that are being systematically targeted and culled by his own party.

Dismissal of Diverse American Experiences: Ramaswamy’s framing of American culture as overly focused on social popularity and mediocrity is also seen by many as dismissive of the diverse lived experiences of many American families. Progressive critics argue that his critique ignores the complex interplay of race, class, and access to resources and opportunity in shaping achievement.

Cultural Elitism: Some see Ramaswamy’s emphasis on "excellence" as elitist and out of touch with the realities faced by many working-class families. By juxtaposing "mediocre" American families with disciplined immigrant families, he risks reinforcing harmful stereotypes about cultural superiority, while failing to acknowledge that American-born children of all backgrounds can and do succeed in rigorous academic environments despite cultural differences.

Public Feedback: Support, Criticism, and the Cultural Divide

The public discourse around Ramaswamy's comments has been voluminous and largely contentious, especially on social media platforms like X. His critique has ignited debates about American cultural priorities, with many seeing his remarks as an elitist attack on traditional American values. The feedback has been mixed but predominantly leans towards criticism, with hashtags like #AmericansFirst and #NoH1Bs trending, indicating significant pushback against his views on culture and immigration.

There's a palpable sense of division; some view Ramaswamy's comments as a necessary critique to spur cultural and educational reform, while others see them as a denigration of American identity. Conservative commentators and MAGA influencers have been particularly vocal, often framing his critique as out of touch or even as a betrayal of MAGA ideals.

The response from the public, particularly those within MAGA circles, has been one of defense against perceived cultural elitism, with many feeling that Ramaswamy's background as an Indian-American might not resonate with the "average" American's experience or values. Ramaswamy’s cultural assessment has not gone unnoticed by the general public, and the feedback has been both extensive and segmented, with clear patterns emerging across different ideological lines.

What Does This Mean for America's Future?

Ramaswamy’s post is a call to arms for a return to a culture of excellence, where hard work, intellectual curiosity, and academic achievement are paramount. His message aligns with a larger conservative push to challenge what they see as a complacent, "woke" culture that has devalued meritocracy in favor of social inclusivity.

However, his analysis misses critical factors like systemic inequality and access to a host of resources, which critics argue are far more impactful in determining who succeeds and who does not. In pushing for a renewed focus on excellence, Ramaswamy risks alienating those who believe that America’s future lies in tackling these inequalities rather than simply celebrating his particular vision of cultural achievement.

As debates about education, immigration, and national identity continue to shape American politics, Ramaswamy’s post highlights the growing divide between those who seek a cultural awakening and those who demand structural reform. Ultimately, the conversation around cultural values and excellence is not just about competing in a globalized world; it is also about how we define success in an increasingly polarized society.

A Cultural Turning Point or Divisive Rhetoric?

Vivek Ramaswamy’s argument that American culture needs to return to a focus on excellence and merit will continue to spark debates. Whether his assessment marks the beginning of a much-needed cultural shift or serves as another wedge in an already deeply divided society remains to be seen. We can extrapolate some interesting conversations and questions that stem from his commentary. Do we want more bigger, better, taller, walls at the Southern border? Do we want to drive all the immigrants out of the U.S.? But, like all of them? This discourse is teasing out just how hardline the Republican party is going to lean here. If we oversimplify the issue, which we know that politicians love to do, we can only pick one stance on immigration. In or out. Ramaswamy is bringing some spice and breaking from the MAGA dogma de jour and beginning to make a case for, in his eyes, nuances about immigration, policies, and how our shared culture interplays within these spaces.

This particular conversation has been interesting to dissect. Ramaswamy's singular newsworthy post illustrates how policy, culture, and identity politics intersect within the modern Republican Party, particularly among supporters of MAGA ideologies. Even prominent figures like Ramaswamy can face significant pushback when their views do not fully align with the movement's perceived consensus. What is clear, however, is that this spark of conversation is central to the broader discussions about America’s future—its competitiveness on the global stage, its values, and the path it will take to address its most pressing challenges.

Shine brightly, ask lots of questions, and continue to engage with the world around you.

—Anthro Pop