The accusation of being “elite” is just another front in the culture war. I did fly last year (for a parent’s funeral), I read more than two books per year, and I have a college degree. But I will never be a homeowner nor am I likely ever to retire. I rarely eat out and I never travel for pleasure. People who did not go to college, who do not read books, but worked hard and were in the right place at the right time may own franchises of major chains, have large homes and boats or RVs, eat regularly in nice restaurants, and retire by their sixties. I don’t begrudge them the lifestyle they’ve earned (if they’ve earned it), but if one of us is elite, they are. As long as I have to work for a living and pay rent every month, I refuse to call myself anything but working class.
As you note the entire critique of "cultural elites" that the right in particular likes to engage in is a farce in a world where PhD adjunct professors are living in their cars and trying to organize unions while being smeared as elites.
In my definition elites are those who lives are not financially precarious. I think the shame we feel about our material circumstance is assuaged by attaching ourselves to moral movements that don't move the needle much for the general good but assure us of our moral superiority.
Highly insightful writing as we have come to expect which inspired two thoughts. With regards to Elites not only does the threshold need to be much higher than $1m, the “in touch with reality” goal should be different - assuming we want the captains if industry to be anything other than the predators they have become. My mother taught me to always “put yourself in the other guys shoes” - have some empathy in other words. As you rightly point out having a ton of money makes it impossible to be “in touch” with the masses who depend on a paycheck. But a decent human being can have empathy and actually listen, learn and act in ways that don’t mostly take advantage of said non-elites. Unfortunately, as we hurtle towards a take everything you can and consequences be damned society, empathy is another casualty.
Secondly the $1m threshold is a sensible cutoff line for anyone below who is pretty much living a life of insecurity. But just getting to $1 or $2m isn’t what it used to be. I know people who maxed out their company 401k contributions and maybe got a lump sum when said company pulled the plug on their pension plans but really didn’t have any other windfalls. While that sounds like a lot and would probably make anyone without that choke on their McDonalds soda, all it really provides is a little breathing room and some level of “choice.” In reality it’s nearly impossible to live a remotely comfortable life on less than $50k annually and even that subsistence level is rapidly escalating as costs for basics keep rising. I have always encouraged my kids (now in their 30’s) to make decisions that gave them the ability to have choices but that seems increasingly unattainable - which of course our politicians and elites could give a damn about.
Me, I'd just like to have a beer with George W. Bush. This was a dream of many for those old enough to remember. He's also a rancher from Texas, not from fancy pants Connecticut!
I’m one of the working elites you describe so well. A few mil in investments, don’t really need for much, and make more in one year than most Americans have in life savings. But I’m still required to work and save. Let’s say I quit to become a gardener, which would be a dream. And then let’s say me or one of my family members gets sick. Poof. Safety net gone. Millions in savings gone. I’ve seen it happen to wealthy sole proprietors, like a few solo lawyers I know.
So while my day to day struggles are not the same as most Americans, my potential to be bankrupted by forced out of my control still exist. It does however make me pull that D lever on Election Day to try and help all of us get better gov services and healthcare, even if it costs me more in taxes (it should, US taxes are the lowest by far in the world).
The accusation of being “elite” is just another front in the culture war. I did fly last year (for a parent’s funeral), I read more than two books per year, and I have a college degree. But I will never be a homeowner nor am I likely ever to retire. I rarely eat out and I never travel for pleasure. People who did not go to college, who do not read books, but worked hard and were in the right place at the right time may own franchises of major chains, have large homes and boats or RVs, eat regularly in nice restaurants, and retire by their sixties. I don’t begrudge them the lifestyle they’ve earned (if they’ve earned it), but if one of us is elite, they are. As long as I have to work for a living and pay rent every month, I refuse to call myself anything but working class.
As you note the entire critique of "cultural elites" that the right in particular likes to engage in is a farce in a world where PhD adjunct professors are living in their cars and trying to organize unions while being smeared as elites.
“You are free in a way that they are not and never will be.” Making this statement untrue is the whole project.
In my definition elites are those who lives are not financially precarious. I think the shame we feel about our material circumstance is assuaged by attaching ourselves to moral movements that don't move the needle much for the general good but assure us of our moral superiority.
Very important point.
𝘔𝘳. 𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘬’𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘔𝘳. 𝘈𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦́ 𝘕𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩.
This is one of the most Porque No Los Dos things I've ever seen.
Highly insightful writing as we have come to expect which inspired two thoughts. With regards to Elites not only does the threshold need to be much higher than $1m, the “in touch with reality” goal should be different - assuming we want the captains if industry to be anything other than the predators they have become. My mother taught me to always “put yourself in the other guys shoes” - have some empathy in other words. As you rightly point out having a ton of money makes it impossible to be “in touch” with the masses who depend on a paycheck. But a decent human being can have empathy and actually listen, learn and act in ways that don’t mostly take advantage of said non-elites. Unfortunately, as we hurtle towards a take everything you can and consequences be damned society, empathy is another casualty.
Secondly the $1m threshold is a sensible cutoff line for anyone below who is pretty much living a life of insecurity. But just getting to $1 or $2m isn’t what it used to be. I know people who maxed out their company 401k contributions and maybe got a lump sum when said company pulled the plug on their pension plans but really didn’t have any other windfalls. While that sounds like a lot and would probably make anyone without that choke on their McDonalds soda, all it really provides is a little breathing room and some level of “choice.” In reality it’s nearly impossible to live a remotely comfortable life on less than $50k annually and even that subsistence level is rapidly escalating as costs for basics keep rising. I have always encouraged my kids (now in their 30’s) to make decisions that gave them the ability to have choices but that seems increasingly unattainable - which of course our politicians and elites could give a damn about.
Me, I'd just like to have a beer with George W. Bush. This was a dream of many for those old enough to remember. He's also a rancher from Texas, not from fancy pants Connecticut!
I’m one of the working elites you describe so well. A few mil in investments, don’t really need for much, and make more in one year than most Americans have in life savings. But I’m still required to work and save. Let’s say I quit to become a gardener, which would be a dream. And then let’s say me or one of my family members gets sick. Poof. Safety net gone. Millions in savings gone. I’ve seen it happen to wealthy sole proprietors, like a few solo lawyers I know.
So while my day to day struggles are not the same as most Americans, my potential to be bankrupted by forced out of my control still exist. It does however make me pull that D lever on Election Day to try and help all of us get better gov services and healthcare, even if it costs me more in taxes (it should, US taxes are the lowest by far in the world).
I am also, happily, a class traitor.
Touché! Bravo.
I can’t be the only one who thought “Remulak!” upon seeing that picture?
“Elites … feel deep shame and guilt at their own unjustified position in the socioeconomic hierarchy[.]”
This is hilarious.
This is very astute you considered this topic in a way I never have.
Fun article. Reminds me of how everyone sees themselves as middle class, and the shame certain folks carry if they display their wealth and privilege.