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Sunday, July 25, 2010
On Class Warfare and “Getting Things Done”
A lot of things have been going on in my mind lately, readers. A few weeks ago, I came across a stunning article by Angelo Codevilla in the American Spectator. Stunning, in that it put into clear, concrete words what many of us have been coming to grasp over the last several years: that there is now a massive, and perhaps irreparable, divide between “Main Street” Americans and the ruling class that controls the levers of power. Given that America has historically been free of that most venerable and noxious of European traditions - the ruling class - I believe its emergence here signals a far more direct threat to our republic than any one economic crisis or piece of bad legislation.
Since reading that article, I have noticed increasing discussion in the blogosphere on the ruling class, its views and beliefs, and its implications for the future of this great nation. Whether that discussion has been sparked by the above article or if I am just now noticing a debate that has been going on for quite some time, I do not know. It is true that Rasmussen has been publishing polls on the divergence of opinion between the Mainstream and the Political Class, but I believe for awhile these were treated mostly as a novelty by consumers of polling data. Now, people are taking notice.
The Co-Conspirators here come from a variety of backgrounds. Some, like Duyen, scraped their way from nothing to achieve what used to be known as the American Dream. Others are from solidly working class backgrounds. It is no surprise that Eternity Road postings strongly oppose the views of the Political Class, who are united by their belief in government power as well as their societal privilege.
Without presuming to speak for anyone, it is probably your humble correspondent whose background most closely fits the bill for a member of a political class. I grew up in a wealthy family, I attended the “right schools” (Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona and then the University of Chicago), and in my social science degree program was instructed in all the correct ways of thinking on topics ranging from racial preferences to party affiliation. Especially in college, all of my peers were either part of, or aspired to join, the elite (the most sought after jobs after college for my class were either investment banking or government positions). Militant liberalism and atheism were the only ethos in town.
Yet here I am, writing for a decidedly non-chic website, railing against the privilege I could have so easily obtained for myself. Indeed, it is easier than ever to obtain this privilege, provided you are willing to do a few things:
Today’s ruling class, from Boston to San Diego, was formed by an educational system that exposed them to the same ideas and gave them remarkably uniform guidance, as well as tastes and habits. These amount to a social canon of judgments about good and evil, complete with secular sacred history, sins (against minorities and the environment), and saints. Using the right words and avoiding the wrong ones when referring to such matters—speaking the “in” language—serves as a badge of identity. Regardless of what business or profession they are in, their road up included government channels and government money because, as government has grown, its boundary with the rest of American life has become indistinct. Many began their careers in government and leveraged their way into the private sector. Some, e.g., Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, never held a non-government job. Hence whether formally in government, out of it, or halfway, America’s ruling class speaks the language and has the tastes, habits, and tools of bureaucrats. It rules uneasily over the majority of Americans not oriented to government.
This is an elite formed not by wealth (the Rockefellers) or ancestral achievement (the Kennedy’s), but by allegiance to a particular ideological program and committed subservience to the government Leviathan. Is it any wonder Mainstream America believes its politicians and bureaucrats are bumbling idiots? At least in the elite’s previous incarnations it could be assumed they got there by their own smarts or good genes and hence could mostly be trusted to make sound decisions. These days all it takes is a Democratic Party registration card and an aversion to productive private sector labor. The education at “elite institutions” has been so diluted even the degree doesn’t signal much anymore. After all, they have produced such committed intellectual mediocrities as John Kerry, Al Gore, Ted Stevens, and yes, Barack Obama, all of whom have gone on to positions at the highest levels of political power.
With this elite firmly in control of the government, the media, and many big businesses, it seems hopeless, right?
Yet, the hour is upon us when the elite is experiencing a crisis of confidence. The second half of this post’s title refers to the paradox vexing many in the elite media these days - namely, why has the public turned against the Democrats when they have “accomplished” so much? After all, they’ve passed huge health care, spending, and financial reform bills to prove they can “get things done.” Why doesn’t the public care? Worse, why are the troglodytes nominating cave trolls like Sarah Palin, Chris Christie, Rand Paul and Sharron Angle to spoil the party?
It is here that disconnection between the Political Class’s and the Mainstream’s view of politics is foundering. For the Political Class, expansions of government authority are de facto solutions to all problems and partisan “wins” are what drives voters to return them to power. For the Mainstream, government is supposed to make decisions that materially improve problems and are in line with the public’s thinking on the issues. Who has the more common sense view here? Isn’t it quite sad that the elites ramrodded unpopular legislation through the national Congress and are now wondering why such an act would make them more unpopular?
The coming battles will divide on class lines as none in American history has done. The elite have the advantage of authority, and the ruled have the advantage of numbers. This is how it has always been. Less than 4 months from now, the American people will most likely deliver a historic rebuke to the elites and the party that represents them. What follows after that rebuke will be an interesting sign of things to come. Will the defeated members of the ruling class slink off, or try to railroad the American people one last time in the lame duck session?
More importantly, will the representatives sent by the people to replace the rulers begin to destroy the old system, or will they be corrupted by it in their turn? On that question, many things will turn.
Comments
We should, now that we’ve thoroughly kicked the racism can down the road, focus on a bit of social judo of our own class warfare: The Conformers vs The Creators. Those who would conform you to their likeness, and those who would have you create your own future and would help you do so.
Poor elitists. They don’t know that Capitalism is the human default. They may kill the overt form of it, but the new race card to throw down may well be “black market capitalism” if we are at all lucky. All the consumer protection agencies can just get bent.
I’d rather be ruled by caveat emptorin an age of information than footling agents of an idiocratic government.
Posted by Joan of Argghh! on 07/25/2010 at 01:44 PMMr. Codevilla’s essay is one of four or five from this year that will be remembered and discussed far into the future. I’ve stepped aside and featured it for the second time in the upcoming Woodpile Report. It’s a stunning, jaw dropping exposition of insight and analysis, presented in unusually readable form.
Posted by Ol' Remus on 07/25/2010 at 02:22 PMwe’re not chic? sez who?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25/2010 at 03:06 PM“... a historic rebuke to the elites and the party that represents them.”
As Mr. Codevilla noted, to be accurate, that should be parties.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25/2010 at 06:42 PMWe do, Akaky
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25/2010 at 07:02 PMJohnK -
Good point, although I think the Democrats are naturally the party of the elite, while Republican politicians just try to fit in. Sending enough Rand Pauls and Sharron Angles to Congress will help that.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25/2010 at 11:01 PM
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