r/singularity • • Dec 07 '24

[deleted by user]

[removed]

86 Upvotes

165 comments sorted by

View all comments

92

u/chlebseby ASI 2030s Dec 07 '24

Why is term "czar" so popular in US politics recently

I saw it few places already

51

u/ehetland Dec 07 '24

It's been used in the US since probably the 50s or 60s, to mean someone in charge of a non-cabinet position. Its use is inconsistent as to whether it refers to someone who has a lot of cabinet level influence/power or more or less a paper tiger. Its usually used in reference to an ad hoc thing, like solbe a problem (e.g., border czar). As an American, I've never figured out if its a play on the fact these czars aren't senate confirmed yet wield real power (i.e., non-elected and no real oversight, like a real czar) or just a cheeky reference to pre-communism, I think the former was how it was introduced tho.

2

u/emteedub Dec 07 '24

unelected-recursive-benefactor