The Myth of the "Liberal Elites"
It is hard to talk about this. For so many reasons. Mostly, that I just don't want to be misunderstood. For a few years I've been hearing terms like "Coastal Elites" and "Liberal Elites" and I can't help but notice the mass of problems in these statements.
The first, and perhaps biggest problem is this. Whatever the term is in you Country/State/Whatever, it is ALWAYS the same. Usage of broad labels, in my mind, always equates automatically to a lack of individualism. A complete and total inability to separate reality from labels. As I've said, time and again... rational, normal people... are ALL different. They vary from person to person, from city to city, state to state and country to country. If you're thinking for yourself, why can't you come up with your own words? And why can't you see past these artificial divisions?
It is a weakness and a bias of my own that I often can't see past that. And that is, of course, because I believe in the validity of my claims. I don't blindly align myself with those I consider to be like minded. I don't follow mob rule or mentality. And as such, I don't appropriate the terms and labels of the mobs. I'll gladly listen to any Doug Ford or a Donald Trump supporter that can separate themselves and others from the mobs associated with their "side". Likewise, I'll just as soon ignore a Canadian Liberal who I don't feel is capable of the same.
The farcical reality is that every leader will make some decisions which benefit you and some which don't. By blindly aligning yourself with one side or another you lose your ability to speak out on your own behalf.
But, back to the term. For now I'll just call it "X Elite" where you replace X with whatever hot word they're using in your locale.
The terms is automatically wrong. In every case I've seen it used so far, it refers to group consisting of roughly half the population. In many cases, it is even a majority. The term "elite" STRONGLY implies a minority. Whether it is the top 1% or the top 10%. The word "elite" (outside of credit card and airline club branding) is meant only to talk such small portions of society. I'd have a hard time accepting even the top 25% of anything being called "elite".
I suspect that the choice of words is intentional though. If you can call a group of people you dislike elitists, you feel like it is the average person taking on the privileged few. David and Goliath. And a lot of the commentary seems to run along those lines. But, like I said, it isn't an elite group at all. It HALF THE FREAKIN' POPULATION. It is people of all walks of life. All jobs. All income levels. Friends. Family. Neighbors.
And here is the crazier part. Even if everyone in this group is MORE privileged (say, financially) than you are... then you are an even bigger idiot. The X in the "X Elites" is usually a more left leaning political group. These groups are generally pushing for more public services. And yes, that means more taxes. But, taxation is not linear. People who earn more, pay disproportionately more. People who earn less, pay disproportionately less. Put another way, the very people you think you're spiting... paid for a disproportionate amount for you and your children to attend school. If you have universal basic health care, they pay far more of your share than you do every time you're sick.
In fact, the true elites would actually be better off under the type of government the "average person" seems to be fighting for. They can not only afford private education and healthcare, but the portion of their taxes which goes to these services is probably MORE than private education and healthcare would cost them.
On the flip side, the average person? They couldn't afford these services if they were privatized.
The point I'm trying to make is that these people you're rallying against. The change they are voting for, would actually hurt them more and benefit the others more. Which is an anti-elitist mentality. True elitists would actually favor the policies of Trump or Ford. Reduced public services and taxes, ultimately make the rich wealthier and the poor poorer (or at least unhealthier or dumber). In other words, it helps widen the gap. And helps keep the elite, as the elite.
The final problem with the term is; it makes the person throwing such language around feel superior. It makes them feel elite. It is a self-defeating insult.
It is a myth on all fronts. The "X Elites" are not an elite group at all. There is no criteria or cut off. No restriction or even barrier to being a part of the group. The group isn't seeking to establish itself as elite in any way either. And it's goals actually favor a more level playing field. Lastly, the only group that feels "elite" in this whole debacle ends up being the group calling the other "elitists".
The first, and perhaps biggest problem is this. Whatever the term is in you Country/State/Whatever, it is ALWAYS the same. Usage of broad labels, in my mind, always equates automatically to a lack of individualism. A complete and total inability to separate reality from labels. As I've said, time and again... rational, normal people... are ALL different. They vary from person to person, from city to city, state to state and country to country. If you're thinking for yourself, why can't you come up with your own words? And why can't you see past these artificial divisions?
It is a weakness and a bias of my own that I often can't see past that. And that is, of course, because I believe in the validity of my claims. I don't blindly align myself with those I consider to be like minded. I don't follow mob rule or mentality. And as such, I don't appropriate the terms and labels of the mobs. I'll gladly listen to any Doug Ford or a Donald Trump supporter that can separate themselves and others from the mobs associated with their "side". Likewise, I'll just as soon ignore a Canadian Liberal who I don't feel is capable of the same.
The farcical reality is that every leader will make some decisions which benefit you and some which don't. By blindly aligning yourself with one side or another you lose your ability to speak out on your own behalf.
But, back to the term. For now I'll just call it "X Elite" where you replace X with whatever hot word they're using in your locale.
The terms is automatically wrong. In every case I've seen it used so far, it refers to group consisting of roughly half the population. In many cases, it is even a majority. The term "elite" STRONGLY implies a minority. Whether it is the top 1% or the top 10%. The word "elite" (outside of credit card and airline club branding) is meant only to talk such small portions of society. I'd have a hard time accepting even the top 25% of anything being called "elite".
I suspect that the choice of words is intentional though. If you can call a group of people you dislike elitists, you feel like it is the average person taking on the privileged few. David and Goliath. And a lot of the commentary seems to run along those lines. But, like I said, it isn't an elite group at all. It HALF THE FREAKIN' POPULATION. It is people of all walks of life. All jobs. All income levels. Friends. Family. Neighbors.
And here is the crazier part. Even if everyone in this group is MORE privileged (say, financially) than you are... then you are an even bigger idiot. The X in the "X Elites" is usually a more left leaning political group. These groups are generally pushing for more public services. And yes, that means more taxes. But, taxation is not linear. People who earn more, pay disproportionately more. People who earn less, pay disproportionately less. Put another way, the very people you think you're spiting... paid for a disproportionate amount for you and your children to attend school. If you have universal basic health care, they pay far more of your share than you do every time you're sick.
In fact, the true elites would actually be better off under the type of government the "average person" seems to be fighting for. They can not only afford private education and healthcare, but the portion of their taxes which goes to these services is probably MORE than private education and healthcare would cost them.
On the flip side, the average person? They couldn't afford these services if they were privatized.
The point I'm trying to make is that these people you're rallying against. The change they are voting for, would actually hurt them more and benefit the others more. Which is an anti-elitist mentality. True elitists would actually favor the policies of Trump or Ford. Reduced public services and taxes, ultimately make the rich wealthier and the poor poorer (or at least unhealthier or dumber). In other words, it helps widen the gap. And helps keep the elite, as the elite.
The final problem with the term is; it makes the person throwing such language around feel superior. It makes them feel elite. It is a self-defeating insult.
It is a myth on all fronts. The "X Elites" are not an elite group at all. There is no criteria or cut off. No restriction or even barrier to being a part of the group. The group isn't seeking to establish itself as elite in any way either. And it's goals actually favor a more level playing field. Lastly, the only group that feels "elite" in this whole debacle ends up being the group calling the other "elitists".
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