America Has Bad Elites
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TL;DR
- Historical figures like Deioces understood the importance of maintaining an image of otherness for legitimacy, a lesson modern elites have not learned.
- Populist arguments gain traction due to a perceived lack of character and virtue among economic elites, not just their wealth.
- Unlike old-world aristocrats with formal and informal obligations, modern elites often lack a sense of public service or community-focused giving.
- Moderation, exemplified by figures like Warren Buffett, fosters admiration, while excessive displays of wealth, like those of Jeff Bezos, breed unpopularity.
- A shift in education from character cultivation to wealth generation has left elites intelligent but unworldly and intellectually unserious.
- Elon Musk's endorsement of the great replacement theory highlights a potential deficit in character or the inability to discern misinformation.
- The contempt for elites stems from a disconnect between the ideal of admirable leadership and the actual conduct of today's prominent figures.
- Populism is fueled by a hatred of the perceived lack of humanity and the appearance of those who 'win' the capitalist system, rather than capitalism itself.
- Modern elites ignore the responsibilities of leadership, seeking the 'crown without the weight' and failing to cultivate the character to justify their visibility.