“Disinterested elite” was not meant as a criticism. Disinterested means “not influenced by considerations of personal advantage.”
If you were familiar with the writings of the Founders, you would be aware that they viewed men who were involved in the struggle to make a living as unsuitable to be in charge of national affairs. Such men are by definition “influenced by considerations of personal advantage.” The Founders thought only men who had moved beyond this were capable of the necessary detachment from self-interest.
That’s why Franklin retired from business before becoming involved in public affairs. That’s why Burr was so distrusted by the other Founders. He was a politician openly out for himself, of a type we’ve been familiar with for the last 200 years. But one that the others all still felt the need to at least pretend not to be.
Revolutionary America was in process of transformation from a society with a traditional hierarchy, almost aristocratic (but without aristocrats) to the aggressive frontier POV that “one man is as good as another.”
The Founders expected the role of the People in government to mainly have the judgment of picking out those who were better than they were. When politics quickly became a low jobbing trade, if there were any disinterested elites still in government, they mostly quit in disgust.
I’m unclear what word you think rankles me.
#6 and #12 about sum up the de facto situation.
Yes, the Constitution describes a Republic, but you’ve described what actually happens in practice.
The financial elites during this time have always loved the idea of popular elections and campaigns because they are so easy for them to control their outcomes, thus having their own minions in power with a veneer of public support.
You’ve demonstrated your Marxist elitism with aplomb!
I find nothing in the writings of the founders and commentators that demonstrates such arrogance. Even Payne didn’t sink that far.