WHO ARE THE ELITE?

-by Mags



When the right wing [an historical concept invented for the preservation of the aristocratic elite in revolutionary France] talks about elitism, what do they mean? Not long ago, and laughably so, Barack Obama was being accused of elitism. Certainly, Obama is not a member of the lower socioeconomic classes. But, no one could consider Hillary Clinton or John McCain as just plain folks either. What qualifies a person to be elite to the right wing or any wing for that matter?

From my experience in the classroom and out of it, I would say that when the right wing denigrates elites the people they mean are the educated people who are fighting to increase awareness of poverty and inequality in our country. It is a fact that those with a college education are more likely to see the big picture, to be able to analyze the socioeconomic structure, to observe the gate keeping which takes place in our country.

Wikipedia defines elite thus:

Elite (also spelled Élite) is taken originally from the Latin, eligere, "to elect". In sociology as in general usage, the élite is a relatively small dominant group within a large society, which enjoys a privileged status envied by individuals of lower social status.

The position of an elite at the top of the social strata almost invariably puts it in a position of leadership and often subjects the holders of elite status to pressure to maintain their position as part of the elite. However, in spite of the pressures, the existence of the elite social stratum is usually unchanged.

However, the political ramifications of the term elite are not this simple. It appears to me that the right wing is in support of elitism as it is defined here. These are the people who argue against the "discrimination" against the rich and powerful. These are people who fight bloody battles to maintain any scrap of power they can latch onto. When, they speak of elite in the pejorative, we must assume that the meaning of elite in their world is something other than its accepted meaning in the real world.

Most often college professors are the targets of this term. When Michelle Malkin and Rush Limbaugh [and Bush] use it, they mean to denigrate those who use research and history to back up their points. They use this term because frankly, they have no evidence for their stance and all they have left is to use emotionally charges words in meaningless ways. Thus, in the populace the terms are parroted ad infinitum with little or no understanding of their true meaning. But, when they say it, they say it with all of the affect of a playground bully taunting the smart kid because he… well, he… cannot measure up any other way than by physical and verbal abuse.

Terms like these are what I call conversation stoppers. They give the person using it the sense that they have said something meaningful and important, that they have indeed stopped you in your tracks. Obviously, to them only, they need offer no other explanation.

The good news is that the term will also give us a chance to ask fundamental questions of the other so as to clarify. In clarifying, we might perhaps educate, as any good intellectual elite is wont to do. That is where it begins. Ask the person what they mean? Ask them to name others who fall into this category and why. My best guess is that they will not know.

Elites according to the right wing are people who are not part of the crowd. In their minds elites think of themselves as better than everyone else, and true elites would. But, the people the right are calling elites are not elites in that sense. Who are the “elites” they are talking about? The supposed elite are the well educated professionals who sit in conferences and meetings and classrooms in which the effects of poverty and inequality are well known to the participants. They are the educators who teach their students the truths of the world around them, who help their students to see the power structure which does not treat them equally. Those accused of being elite are the best friends of the poor and disenfranchised, hardly a position of power and elitism in its true sense.

So, when you see lobbyists working for John McCain on behalf of wealthy corporations and foreign dignitaries who hold vast amounts of wealth, then perhaps that is more in keeping with the dictionary meaning of elite. Certainly the elite do not want us all to have health care. They would rather our country purchase bombs and hire elite mercenaries. Certainly the elite would not want to insure that everyone has voting rights, they would rather hold power through corrupt elections paid for with corporate funds. Certainly the elite will not argue for equal educational opportunities for all Americans, they like it when their kids have the advantage of connections rather than intellect, just ask the Bush family.

Those who decry classism are those who promote it. What troubles me most is that those most hurt by the true elite are the ones who often use the term to describe those who are in fact rooting for them, the poor, the disenfranchised.

The moral of the story is that words matter. And, words have meaning. It would do us good to start asking people very politely just what they mean. It just might open doors of communication and we might be able to clarify for other the true meanings of the words they use.

This just occurred to me while I was sitting in meetings where we are discussing how we can serve the public on fewer and fewer funds as more people need, but fewer people at the top… the Elites… really care. Take it for what it’s worth.