America and Elites

There are people who claim that the regular people are – or should be – socialists and are being preyed upon by conservative business and military elites.

There are other people who claim that the regular people are – or should be - conservatives and are being preyed upon by liberal media and academic elites.

Both are part-right.

First of all, what is an elite? An elite is a group of people who got good at something or other. An ethic that celebrates success and achievement should see elites in a positive light. The people who claim America to be the most successful society in history, while viciously attacking the “liberal elites,” are hypocrites. They value success when they have it and attack it when someone else has it.

The people who are described derisively as “limousine liberals” are, in my mind, heroes. They are people who found out the way to make do in a very hostile climate, while keeping alive their noble ideals. I have nothing but good things to say about these so-called liberal elites. In my experience of dealing with them, they were kind, intelligent and compassionate. And they were willing to act in a humble and respectful manner even though their accomplishments far exceeded my own.

Of course not everyone in the elites is a good guy; but then neither is the average person. There are plenty of people who are not a part of any elite whatsoever, who are complete jerks. There are many average people who beat their wives, rape their children, slap “hos” and do any number of other ugly deeds. Elites do not own evil. It cuts across social boundaries, and while some people in the elites are indeed evil so are many people who are not part of the elites.

To claim one's society to be the most successful one ever created, while in the same breath attacking “liberal elites,” is complete hypocrisy. If success is a good thing then other people than oneself who get success should be respected; and if one impugns “liberal elites” then he is impugning success. These people need to make up their minds as to what they value. From what I've seen, they see liberals who don't have success as losers and those who do have success as evil. With some people you just can't win.

I've been on both the winning and the losing side of capitalism; and in no way am I against success. I am however against hypocrisy, and that is what we see here. If success is a good thing, then liberal elites should be credited with the success that they have achieved. And if they are to be maligned for it, then so should the conservatives who are successful. In either case, it is important to make up the mind. Is success a good thing (and thus the elites should be respected)? Or are the elites to be hated, and also – with them – success?

I believe that a true American will be respectful of successes that people accomplish, even if those people are nothing like himself. For centuries America has stood as a shining beacon of greatness that people can accomplish. A true American will have respect for the academia, the media and other pursuits that advance the civilization. He will respect the “liberal elites.” And in so doing he will be making good on the true great promise of America.