The article "The new intellectual donkeys", published on the Madeira Opina blog, harshly criticizes the state of the labor market and public administration in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The author states that, for years, the talk about meritocracy was nothing but rhetoric, denouncing the existence of tailor-made competitions, marked cards, and what he calls "the usual cronyism." Regarding SIADAP and management practices, the text argues that honoring merit has never been anything more than a mirage, with the color of one's card, family surname, or ability to please superiors always weighing more heavily.
The author now alerts to a new reality with the arrival of artificial intelligence and adulterated virtual reality. According to the text, people who studied and possess critical thinking and practical knowledge are being overtaken by so-called "intellectual donkeys" - individuals without their own vision or capacity for autonomous thinking, but who have learned to produce appealing reports through algorithms to impress in meetings and presentations.
The result of this combination of traditional favoritism with digital ease is described as disastrous. The article argues that a decision-making elite is being formed composed of the least prepared, most malleable, and best at the art of appearance. When real intelligence is overlooked in favor of what the author calls "technological cunning" and the usual influences, it is the entire island that loses, governed by manufactured elites who cannot solve practical day-to-day problems.
The text ends with a message of support for the Madeira Opina team, which the author congratulates for their fight in public opinion, calling for the continuation of the publication to defend the minority that still thinks critically.
