"Elites" - Who Are They and Why Are They to be Despised?

[FactFinder]

I gather I am not supposed to like the "elites." OK - I'm on board for that. "Elites" doesn't sound good going in. Damn "elites" - who needs 'em anyway, with their superior airs and their . . . well, God knows what else they have or do.

But I'm wondering - just who ARE these "elites" everyone seem so bent on vilifying? And exactly what is it about them that MAKES them "elites"? Would anyone care to define them for me?

Give me some examples of people you feel are objectionable "elites." And then, more importantly, let's discuss WHY you feel they fit the description. What is it about the people you might nominate as "elites" (or about all "elites" in general, for that matter), that makes them so despicable?

Well besides driving up oil prices through speculation let's 1st scald them for causing a false demand for housing by issuing credit to whomever may want a house but at the same time having the builtin balloon payment followed rapidly by the ARM that also rapidly balooned and ultimately caused millions of jobs lost, foreclosures and the big current F'in mess we are in.

 

[Lakhota]

Was Steve Jobs an "Elite"?

Yes he was elite, but Steve Jobs was an honorable capitalist - as opposed to scumbags like the Koch brothers.

 

[Sunshine]

When I was at Vanderbit, my classmates and I - most of whom were there on scholarship or loan- dubbed the school an 'elitist school.' Largely, that was due to the number of 18 year olds driving BMW convertibles and Porsches. Which we were reasonably certain they didn't purchase by working summers at the local burger joint. I think to lable someone an elitist definitely has an element of envy.

 

[westwall]

Who would you classify as elitists?

College and university professors?
CEO's of huge corporations?
Artists?
Scientists?
High ranking military people?
Hermits who live in caves?
Justices of the Supreme Court?
Famous athletes?
Movie stars?
High ranking government officials?

Others?

What would you say are the CHARACTERISTICS of an elitist?

Arrogance?
Humility?
Anger?
Stand offishness?
Snobbery?
Extreme wealth?
Extreme intellectual ability?

Others?

I classify an elitist as anyone who uses the power of government to promote their own self interests at the cost of the small fry. Pelosi, Reid, hell most of the politicians I would classify as elitist, they pass laws that we have to follow and write the laws so that they are exempt.

Any corporation who subverts the political process to eliminate their competition and enrich themselves at taxpayers expense is likewise an elitist, like GE and Apple which donated heavily to the current regime and are exempt from the rules which the rest of us have to follow.

That what you're looking for George?

 

[LoneLaugher]

Please...........oh please, George..............teach us.

Who are you?

I'm a new guy who has no idea who you are or what you want to say......even though you started a thread. Spit it out already.

 

[FactFinder]

Was Steve Jobs an "Elite"?

Yes he was elite, but Steve Jobs was an honorable capitalist - as opposed to scumbags like the Koch brothers.

Not so honorable. He overcharged for every product Apple ever made. After all his gouging and despite buying a liver in advance of people who could have gotten actual real use from it all his billions couldn't save a greed monger.

 

[zzzz]

Anybody who thinks they are better than the everyone else of course!!! Or is that conceit?

 

[B. Kidd]

Who would you classify as elitists?

College and university professors?
CEO's of huge corporations?
Artists?
Scientists?
High ranking military people?
Hermits who live in caves?
Justices of the Supreme Court?
Famous athletes?
Movie stars?
High ranking government officials?

Others?

What would you say are the CHARACTERISTICS of an elitist?

Arrogance?
Humility?
Anger?
Stand offishness?
Snobbery?
Extreme wealth?
Extreme intellectual ability?

Others?

I classify an elitist as anyone who uses the power of government to promote their own self interests at the cost of the small fry. Pelosi, Reid, hell most of the politicians I would classify as elitist, they pass laws that we have to follow and write the laws so that they are exempt.

Any corporation who subverts the political process to eliminate their competition and enrich themselves at taxpayers expense is likewise an elitist, like GE and Apple which donated heavily to the current regime and are exempt from the rules which the rest of us have to follow.

That what you're looking for George?

Even on a smaller town local level, I had to spend some of my profits to support local politicians when they ran for re-election, make sure at XMAS those in a position to refer me business were treated to nice gift baskets by Santa, etc., etc. And that was before higher taxes and increasing licensing fees. Because that came out of my profit, I had to pass that cost onto consumers. And that meant putting less back into my business, foregoing employee wage increases, and that was occurring in the 90's when the economy was good with plenty of consumers.
Glad I sold back then and I'm retired and am off the beaten path; cause the beaten path today has to be that much more beaten!

 

[rdean]

Who would you classify as elitists?

College and university professors?
CEO's of huge corporations?
Artists?
Scientists?
High ranking military people?
Hermits who live in caves?
Justices of the Supreme Court?
Famous athletes?
Movie stars?
High ranking government officials?

Others?

What would you say are the CHARACTERISTICS of an elitist?

Arrogance?
Humility?
Anger?
Stand offishness?
Snobbery?
Extreme wealth?
Extreme intellectual ability?

Others?

Right wingers worship the rich but despise the educated. Someone like Bush, rich enough for his father to pull strings to get his son into Harvard where his grades were C minus. See? They love him for being rich, identify with him for being dumb. There you have it. The "elitist" divide.

 

[FactFinder]

Who would you classify as elitists?

College and university professors?
CEO's of huge corporations?
Artists?
Scientists?
High ranking military people?
Hermits who live in caves?
Justices of the Supreme Court?
Famous athletes?
Movie stars?
High ranking government officials?

Others?

What would you say are the CHARACTERISTICS of an elitist?

Arrogance?
Humility?
Anger?
Stand offishness?
Snobbery?
Extreme wealth?
Extreme intellectual ability?

Others?

I classify an elitist as anyone who uses the power of government to promote their own self interests at the cost of the small fry. Pelosi, Reid, hell most of the politicians I would classify as elitist, they pass laws that we have to follow and write the laws so that they are exempt.

Any corporation who subverts the political process to eliminate their competition and enrich themselves at taxpayers expense is likewise an elitist, like GE and Apple which donated heavily to the current regime and are exempt from the rules which the rest of us have to follow.

That what you're looking for George?

Even on a smaller town local level, I had to spend some of my profits to support local politicians when they ran for re-election, make sure at XMAS those in a position to refer me business were treated to nice gift baskets by Santa, etc., etc. And that was before higher taxes and increasing licensing fees. Because that came out of my profit, I had to pass that cost onto consumers. And that meant putting less back into my business, foregoing employee wage increases, and that was occurring in the 90's when the economy was good with plenty of consumers.
Glad I sold back then and I'm retired and am off the beaten path; cause the beaten path today has to be that much more beaten!

Hey, forge a new path. Who wants to tread them damn steps anyway!

 

[George Costanza]

Please...........oh please, George..............teach us.

Who are you?

I'm a new guy who has no idea who you are or what you want to say......even though you started a thread. Spit it out already.

OK - fair enough.

This thread got started due to some guy I heard on Public Radio. He was talking about elitism and the tendency of people (mainly Republicans) in today's political world, to attempt to demonize their opponents by referring to them as "elitists" or "elites."

He said, isn't it interesting - here we have people who are generally very well off, people who live in gated communities, who own yachts, who occupy the fancy suites overlooking baseball parks and football stadiums, who are the CEO's of big corporations, i.e., generally Republicans, calling other people "elitists." He asked, does this seem somewhat ironic to anyone?

But then he went on to DEFINE elitism and, in so doing, he pointed out that there are various aspects of elitism that are quite different. For example, he noted that much of the Republican hatred for "elites" seemed to be aimed at intellectual people - the extremely well educated, college and university professors, scientists, etc. In other words, intellectual elitism.

There is another type of elitism, of course - economic elitism. He posited that when it comes to this type of elitism, it would seem to be mainly a Republican trait, rather than a Democratic one. I don't want this to turn into a "who has the wealth" debate - I'm just saying what this guy said. Whether he is right or not on that narrow issue isn't the point. The point has to do with how we should look at elitism.

Here is the really fascinating thing he said. He asked, WHY do people seem to have more hatred for the intellectually elite, than the economic elite? Good question. He had an answer. His theory is, that anyone, with a little hard work or, better yet, a little good luck (inheritance, lottery winner, etc.) can become an economic elite, whereas you either are an intellectual or you aren't, and no amount of luck is going to get you there if you aren't there already.

The majority of people seem to instinctivley know they are never going to be able to be an intellectual elite, whereas they always seem to see themselves as possible economic elites. Hence, the hatred for something they envy but see themselves as probably never being able to achieve, and the lack of hatred for something they see themselves as possibly being able to achieve at some time in the future.

Interesting, huh? It was to me anyway. Comments?

 

[Sunshine]

Who are you?

I'm a new guy who has no idea who you are or what you want to say......even though you started a thread. Spit it out already.

OK - fair enough.

This thread got started due to some guy I heard on Public Radio. He was talking about elitism and the tendency of people (mainly Republicans) in today's political world, to attempt to demonize their opponents by referring to them as "elitists" or "elites."

He said, isn't it interesting - here we have people who are generally very well off, people who live in gated communities, who own yachts, who occupy the fancy suites overlooking baseball parks and football stadiums, who are the CEO's of big corporations, i.e., generally Republicans, calling other people "elitists." He asked, does this seem somewhat ironic to anyone?

But then he went on to DEFINE elitism and, in so doing, he pointed out that there are various aspects of elitism that are quite different. For example, he noted that much of the Republican hatred for "elites" seemed to be aimed at intellectual people - the extremely well educated, college and university professors, scientists, etc. In other words, intellectual elitism.

There is another type of elitism, of course - economic elitism. He posited that when it comes to this type of elitism, it would seem to be mainly a Republican trait, rather than a Democratic one. I don't want this to turn into a "who has the wealth" debate - I'm just saying what this guy said. Whether he is right or not on that narrow issue isn't the point. The point has to do with how we should look at elitism.

Here is the really fascinating thing he said. He asked, WHY do people seem to have more hatred for the intellectually elite, than the economic elite? Good question. He had an answer. His theory is, that anyone, with a little hard work or, better yet, a little good luck (inheritance, lottery winner, etc.) can become an economic elite, whereas you either are an intellectual or you aren't, and no amount of luck is going to get you there if you aren't there already.

The majority of people seem to instinctivley know they are never going to be able to be an intellectual elite, whereas they always seem to see themselves as possible economic elites. Hence, the hatred for something they envy but see themselves as probably never being able to achieve, and the lack of hatred for something they see themselves as possibly being able to achieve at some time in the future.

Interesting, huh? It was to me anyway. Comments?

When I was in China our Chinese guide, a beautiful young Manchurian woman, talked about the deficiencies in the educational system when she was in school. She linked that to the government getting rid of most of the intellectuals and thusly there being no one who was really qualified to teach. Her comment, 'I guess that wasn't a very good idea.'

 

[B. Kidd]

I classify an elitist as anyone who uses the power of government to promote their own self interests at the cost of the small fry. Pelosi, Reid, hell most of the politicians I would classify as elitist, they pass laws that we have to follow and write the laws so that they are exempt.

Any corporation who subverts the political process to eliminate their competition and enrich themselves at taxpayers expense is likewise an elitist, like GE and Apple which donated heavily to the current regime and are exempt from the rules which the rest of us have to follow.

That what you're looking for George?

Even on a smaller town local level, I had to spend some of my profits to support local politicians when they ran for re-election, make sure at XMAS those in a position to refer me business were treated to nice gift baskets by Santa, etc., etc. And that was before higher taxes and increasing licensing fees. Because that came out of my profit, I had to pass that cost onto consumers. And that meant putting less back into my business, foregoing employee wage increases, and that was occurring in the 90's when the economy was good with plenty of consumers.
Glad I sold back then and I'm retired and am off the beaten path; cause the beaten path today has to be that much more beaten!

Hey, forge a new path. Who wants to tread them damn steps anyway!

I was just a small business, not an elite. Elites have alot more to lose and they better start regaining the trust of each other and consumers, or their days are numbered and they'll take capitalism down with them.

 

[LoneLaugher]

That is interesting.

Whenever fascists take hold of a community/nation, they do so while demonizing and marginalizing the academics. It is the MO of those who wish to control the masses without having to deal with an educated resistance.

Of course.........it always fails in the end. You can't strip a person of their intellect.

 

[FactFinder]

"Elites" - Who Are They and Why Are They to be Despised?

Cause they are a bunch of greed mongering paranoid a'holes!

 

[Si modo]

K. Soros is an elite.

 

[LoneLaugher]

Odd thing......I am not an elitest when it comes to economics. And...I have a BA from a run of the mill state university.............but I am not in the least bit threatened by those who are academic elites. In fact, I am very pleased to know that our POTUS is among the academic elite. I can't reconcile the thought of having a POTUS who I do not defer to when it comes to intellect.

 

[FactFinder]

K. Soros is an elite.

Don't argue with that. There are many who for convenience claim either side.

 

[rdean]

Who are you?

I'm a new guy who has no idea who you are or what you want to say......even though you started a thread. Spit it out already.

OK - fair enough.

This thread got started due to some guy I heard on Public Radio. He was talking about elitism and the tendency of people (mainly Republicans) in today's political world, to attempt to demonize their opponents by referring to them as "elitists" or "elites."

He said, isn't it interesting - here we have people who are generally very well off, people who live in gated communities, who own yachts, who occupy the fancy suites overlooking baseball parks and football stadiums, who are the CEO's of big corporations, i.e., generally Republicans, calling other people "elitists." He asked, does this seem somewhat ironic to anyone?

But then he went on to DEFINE elitism and, in so doing, he pointed out that there are various aspects of elitism that are quite different. For example, he noted that much of the Republican hatred for "elites" seemed to be aimed at intellectual people - the extremely well educated, college and university professors, scientists, etc. In other words, intellectual elitism.

There is another type of elitism, of course - economic elitism. He posited that when it comes to this type of elitism, it would seem to be mainly a Republican trait, rather than a Democratic one. I don't want this to turn into a "who has the wealth" debate - I'm just saying what this guy said. Whether he is right or not on that narrow issue isn't the point. The point has to do with how we should look at elitism.

Here is the really fascinating thing he said. He asked, WHY do people seem to have more hatred for the intellectually elite, than the economic elite? Good question. He had an answer. His theory is, that anyone, with a little hard work or, better yet, a little good luck (inheritance, lottery winner, etc.) can become an economic elite, whereas you either are an intellectual or you aren't, and no amount of luck is going to get you there if you aren't there already.

The majority of people seem to instinctivley know they are never going to be able to be an intellectual elite, whereas they always seem to see themselves as possible economic elites. Hence, the hatred for something they envy but see themselves as probably never being able to achieve, and the lack of hatred for something they see themselves as possibly being able to achieve at some time in the future.

Interesting, huh? It was to me anyway. Comments?

A lot of what the right wing believes is simply what they "imagine". You can see it in their policies. They aren't based on data or study. They are "common sense" and a "gut feeling". Then when they are wrong, they blame the educated for being "elitist". And they are nearly always wrong. You see it over and over again.

Evolution - between fossils, genetics, geology, and the other many sources of evidence, right wingers refuse to "believe" what is right there and available for them to learn.

Same thing with Climate Change.

Look at the economics. Trickle down doesn't work. When someone describes the policy out loud, normal people guffaw. When do Republicans say the words "supply and demand"? They insist there are the "job creators", like they are gods or something, just give them everything they need and they will "make jobs". They refuse to see the connection between "demand" and "jobs".

Successful economies, like ours in the past, followed a "Triple Helix" partnership of Universities, Government, and Business. Right wingers want to starve government until it's small enough to drown in a bathtub (Grover's words) and they think education is "just a piece of paper". And no matter how much they want to believe it, corporations are NOT people. They just aren't.

So you want a "serious" conversation? You won't get it from the right wing. I don't know how many right wingers right here on the USMB have described scientists as lazy, over educated, on the government dole, people who don't add anything the country, lack common sense and so on. But when you point out that a measly 6%, according to PEW Research, of scientists are Republican, they howl "LIAR". Point out that you can find "Scientific Organizations" of Blacks, of Gays, of Women, of Hispanics and so on, but not a single one of Conservatives or Republicans and the right wing will say, "That's because we don't inject politics into science". That, coming from people who want to teach "magical creation" as "science"? Seriously? Hilarious.

 

[FactFinder]

To set the record straight: I am an ***Independent*** since Reagan I have voted conservative. The pendulum has swung and the conservatives have gotten tooo full of themselves. Unless the conservatives come up with a true middle grounder who can tell corprate America, oil speculators and market manipulators to go pound sand then it is time for me to join the dark side.