I see it today in certain private schools even among Elementary School age children who've been brought up in that environment.
You've seen me frequently use the term " educated but ignorant"to refer to so many in politics and frankly Washington DC has the highest concentration of educated but ignorant people anywhere on the planet.
So many of the students at what used to be considered elite academic institutions have shown their ignorance to the world, despite having a supposedly "superb education", but their education is not superb.
This is pretty much a summary of Angelo Codevilla's The Ruling Class: How They Corrupted America and what We Can Do about it. If you haven't read it, you should.
I keep typing similar thoughts. 'Elites' suggest they have talent or ability that others strive for, but aren't as gifted or don't work as hard to achieve.
When I see people being declared as 'elite' in the last 10 years or so, it is much more likely they are part of some guild or protected class that cannot be held accountable for their performance, rather than actually having any talent.
Much more like the worst parts of feudal aristocracy, rather than being high performers in a competitive system.
**
Also my pal, the late Tom Roeser, knew Hillary's parents well. They were neighbors in Park Ridge. He liked to keep track of
1) Hillary's claims that her parents were in the textile industry
2) Hillary's claims that her parent worked in a drapery shop
Both were true, but Hillary would shift the emphasis, depending on how the crowd might react to job titles.
Hang around long enough and you’ll almost get used to these folks slamming the door in your face. Their greatest joy in life is to affirmative action working and middle class folks out of an education, job, or career. It makes them feel so fine to revel in sanctimony because they think they’re helping some avatar in their minds of a disadvantaged person, whom in real life they would never deign to actually have sit at their home’s dinner table on a regular basis.
Most people appreciate the value of high status networks but not the handicaps imposed and moral compromises required to remain a part of that network.
One nit to pick (as your opponents may mention it): Hillary's undergraduate alma mater was not Vassar but Wellesley, another "Seven Sisters" school. They are pretty much interchangeable.
There is an enormous distance between being educated and being credentialled. What the prestigious colleges are selling is the latter, as we see when we note the absurdities being published by their professoriate. The schools and credentialed former residents claim the title of "elite" because it has traditionally been used to connote skill, expertise, and success; you would, too, if you wanted to be well-regarded but lacked the knowledge, skills, and judgement to receive the appellation for merit (and instead had to rely on the accident of familial wealth and/or temporary residence in a place once associated with merit).
Oh my, I've seen the pieces, but not all put together like this into such a clear depiction. Bravo, Jeff!
It was hilarious the last time my mother accused me of becoming Republican to fit in better in Malibu. The shock on her face when I told her I was more likely to be ostracized for being Republican. (If anyone really cared enough.) I still don't think she fully believes me. "Republicans are the party of the rich." Plus I became Republican long ago. In my 20s when I started figuring things out. My poor mother, an elderly black woman, still thinks the Democrats are her people. Those she adores would give her a wide berth.
Spot on 100%.
Merit scares the crap out of them.
I see it today in certain private schools even among Elementary School age children who've been brought up in that environment.
You've seen me frequently use the term " educated but ignorant"to refer to so many in politics and frankly Washington DC has the highest concentration of educated but ignorant people anywhere on the planet.
So many of the students at what used to be considered elite academic institutions have shown their ignorance to the world, despite having a supposedly "superb education", but their education is not superb.
I agree more with you than you do with yourself.
JLM
www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com
I think we all have a sense of the general truth of this, but I’ve not seen it written so succinctly. “It’s a Big Club, and you ain’t in it.”
Truth.
They also "opt out" of doing the dirty work like serving in the armed forces. They are takers.
JLM
www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com
Correct. The sad thing, they didn't used to do that-they joined and were members of the officer class most of the time. They had a stake in the game.
This is pretty much a summary of Angelo Codevilla's The Ruling Class: How They Corrupted America and what We Can Do about it. If you haven't read it, you should.
Couldn’t agree more. I call many of these people ‘Left-Wing Urban Hillbillies,’ despite their various pedigrees.
By the bye, Iowahawk’s ‘Together, I Shall Ride You to Victory’ is even funnier the 63rd time!
(I copy from my FB post)
I keep typing similar thoughts. 'Elites' suggest they have talent or ability that others strive for, but aren't as gifted or don't work as hard to achieve.
When I see people being declared as 'elite' in the last 10 years or so, it is much more likely they are part of some guild or protected class that cannot be held accountable for their performance, rather than actually having any talent.
Much more like the worst parts of feudal aristocracy, rather than being high performers in a competitive system.
**
Also my pal, the late Tom Roeser, knew Hillary's parents well. They were neighbors in Park Ridge. He liked to keep track of
1) Hillary's claims that her parents were in the textile industry
2) Hillary's claims that her parent worked in a drapery shop
Both were true, but Hillary would shift the emphasis, depending on how the crowd might react to job titles.
Hang around long enough and you’ll almost get used to these folks slamming the door in your face. Their greatest joy in life is to affirmative action working and middle class folks out of an education, job, or career. It makes them feel so fine to revel in sanctimony because they think they’re helping some avatar in their minds of a disadvantaged person, whom in real life they would never deign to actually have sit at their home’s dinner table on a regular basis.
Well said Mr Carter!
One of your best columns, Jeff!
Most people appreciate the value of high status networks but not the handicaps imposed and moral compromises required to remain a part of that network.
One nit to pick (as your opponents may mention it): Hillary's undergraduate alma mater was not Vassar but Wellesley, another "Seven Sisters" school. They are pretty much interchangeable.
thanks, will correct
see also C. Wright Mills: The Power elite
There is an enormous distance between being educated and being credentialled. What the prestigious colleges are selling is the latter, as we see when we note the absurdities being published by their professoriate. The schools and credentialed former residents claim the title of "elite" because it has traditionally been used to connote skill, expertise, and success; you would, too, if you wanted to be well-regarded but lacked the knowledge, skills, and judgement to receive the appellation for merit (and instead had to rely on the accident of familial wealth and/or temporary residence in a place once associated with merit).
Oh my, I've seen the pieces, but not all put together like this into such a clear depiction. Bravo, Jeff!
It was hilarious the last time my mother accused me of becoming Republican to fit in better in Malibu. The shock on her face when I told her I was more likely to be ostracized for being Republican. (If anyone really cared enough.) I still don't think she fully believes me. "Republicans are the party of the rich." Plus I became Republican long ago. In my 20s when I started figuring things out. My poor mother, an elderly black woman, still thinks the Democrats are her people. Those she adores would give her a wide berth.
Hit the nail on the proverbial head.