This word is being thrown about a lot lately. What does it mean? How is it really being used? The way the McCain machine seems to define it, in parts aren’t a bad thing, in fact that’s what the American dream is all about. On the other hand, the GOP Uber-Right does not want people to strive to be elite. It’s hard to ‘control’ people that are pending ‘elitism’. That’s the crux of the issue, isn’t it?
Maureen Dowd would like to know “when elite became a bad thing in America”. I would tend to agree. What’s wrong with getting a first rate education, facing challenges, making decisions to better your standing in society. I thought that WAS the American dream. What’s wrong with working your way through law school? Yes, Harvard Law School is an elite institution, but so is the US Naval Academy. So if one person works themselves up to, studies and proves themselves worthy of the best education he’s an “elite”, but if somebody’s father and/or grandfather have connections to get you into Annapolis, you are not an elitist? If you own one house you’re an elitist. But if you are unsure how many between 7 and a dozen houses you own you are NOT an elitist?
We want a certain kind of ‘elite’ to enter the Whitehouse and lead the country, and the world out of turmoil and into a sunny future. I do not want Joe Six-Pack anywhere near Washington D.C.
Lately it seems the word Elite has been tossed around like super-villain badge. Anything that stands in your way to power is now the ‘Elite’. Media Elite, Liberal Elite, Wall Street Elite, the list can go on. But who is most likely to live in gated communities, fly their helicopter to the golf club, and buy their yacht in Monaco? Perhaps the Oil Elites, Lobbyist Elites, Senate Elites?
I believe we all want to be elites, want elites to employe us, want elites to educate us, want elites to empower us. That's the American Dream.
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