Posted on 06/17/2006 5:56:58 PM PDT by TSchmereL
The elites have been more cosmopolitian since rocks cooled. Beyond that, the list strikes me as unduly pessimistic, and paranoid, with the paint brush so broad, that it reminds me of that celebrated modernist painter (the name of which escapes me in a senior moment) who painted broad lines of color, and the congnescenti called it art.
" corporate media demand certain types of politicians."
He may have something here.
Would Grover Cleveland ot Harry Truman make it today?
I always feel that the RINO Mitt Romney may run on his telegenic good looks. He is my absentee governor---too busy for the state business.
The problem is, they really are a meritocracy.
Anyone with any sort of talent and drive can join them and get rich. This sucks potential leaders out of the middle and lower classes, leaving them stuck at the bottom.
Capitalism is a highly successful form of economic organization, but it can have negative social consequences.
Well, they tend to be secular, which has a positive correlation with education, but the rest is simply silly. Granted, one must define "American values." They can be defined in a way, that makes the conclusion ineluctible by the definer.
This j"accuse might be of interest to you.
Yes. There are rewards to being selfish. But those rewards are hollow.
Capitalism, like any economic system, is imperfect. But that does not mean you scrap it. You have laws that protect individuals from the greed of others.
Just as we have rules for our capitalistic economy, we also have to have rules for our elites. They have to be smacked down from time to time to remind them not to get above their raising. I think that is what we are going through right now in this country. We are not going to let these elites change the rules of our society to suit themselves. We will remind them where they came from and who is raising the children.
I challenge you to show me "positive correlation" between being an atheist and being "educated."
We don't have to engage in a game of semantics with you. We know what American values are, as well as you.
One of the most important American value is the recognition of a power higher than and outside oneself. This is the primary value that our modern elites reject.
Lasch was an interesting character, I've read some of his earlier stuff and it's worth the slog. Haven't read this one though. I've a friend who was did a PhD with him in the '70s.
Here is a good example of the midset of our modern elites:
The entire country may disagree with me, but I dont understand the necessity for patriotism, Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country ... I dont see why people care about patriotism.
The Telegraph interviews the Dixie Chicks, and singer Natalie Maines
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/06/15/bmdixie15.xml
The Kennedy family, John Kerry, Al Gore, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Michael Moore, Alex Baldwin,
A MERITocracy, how does that work again?
Read Michelle Malkin's: Dixie Chicks "Question Your Patriotism" http://michellemalkin.com
The top 10% of the US population in income and education.
They are mostly professionals who work 60 hours a week to make between $150K and 500K a year. There are 30 million of them.
I don't consider pop stars to be a part of the American elite in the sense that the author is using the term.
Oh, for a bit I was worried there, that let's out everyone on my list.
Of course they are elites, and they are so in the sense that the author uses the term.
They are professionals. They were elevated to their status as elites through a system of award for their professional achievement. They are elites.
Money can't dodge the arms of revolt from the masses. Screw the elites. If they want to spend their money on foolish dreams, let them. Truth wins. There is way to much information for an elite to take over like Mao or Lenin.
Sounds like a bunch of Randians to me.
Mark Rothko
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