Oikophobia = The irrational fear of fellow countrymen http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/01/13/donald-trump-class-rural-white-democrats-glenn-reynolds-column/96413412/ Dave can you verify that you didn't "ghost write" that last paragraph? It sure does sound familiar....
Thanks for posting that Ralph it has some intersting stuff in it. I know there are those who believe they are above the average Joes, but I didn't realize they actually consider themselves the "ruling class"... :?
In terms of benefitting society, I think a plumber performs a greater service than a pompous minion working at a DC think-tank.
There are those on both sides of the aisle that fit that description Ralph... I can just pick some of them out a little easier by the "Make America Great Again" stickers plastered all over their barely running beat up old jalopys. :wink:
I don't know about jalopys, but I know where to find Democrats http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/general/obama
Not an elitist George... I have had plenty of very used cars myself over the years....I hate that rapid depreciation of very expensive new vehicles. I am just referring to those unfortunates whose only apparent way is up.... and they cast their lot with a true billionaire elitist and generally a party leadership that is elitist and who especially really do not relate to that guy with the sticker in his window and when it gets down to it have very little chance of "making his life great again" nor do they really deep down give a **** about doing so.
Because the other party has done a much better job of bringing those "unfortunates" up to a better standard of living... Hillary definitely related better to the common man. Oh wait, those are the deplorables...
https://spectator.org/39326_americas-ruling-class-and-perils-revolution/ Not a bad read and intuitive at times for being written in 2010...But pack a lunch if you chose to enjoy, it's long.........
The writer certainly is very intelligent as evidenced by his vocabulary and verbosity. However, his premise blew to smithereens the first time he used the words "ruling class". I read the entire piece, believe it or not. His style is interesting but transparent, at least to me. He doesn't reason his way to conclusions. He picks the conclusion that suits his preference and structures his logic to fit that prefence. There is no ruling class in a democracy. There are those elected representatives, from local up to the President, who are in power for a limited period of time, but they don't rule and they don't constitute a class. However, I see how it suits his agenda to portray our system as divided into ruling and lower, aka country, class. I could go on, but I'll end it here by saying that IMO it's one conservative intellectual's multi-faceted opinion, eloquently expressed, but fraught with cynicism and elitist expression. I'm sure it appeals to some. That's what's great about this country of ours. Everyone has the right to express his/her opinion, and everyone has the right to believe what he/she chooses to believe.
Honestly Sid you will get no arguments from me in this, as mentioned it is a bit dated but several key points are dead on but at times it labors on with no end in sight. As you mentioned it's up to the reader in what parts are to be believed. I'll admit that I'm cynical enough "from" life's experience to believe there is a rampant elitist population out there that resembles the jist of what he is talking about...I'm glad you took the time to read it, I owe you an hour!! :shock:
P <t>Not to make this a report on elitism but I've always felt it's the wannabes that are the most arrogant of the bunch.<br/> <br/> I've had the pleasure to manage investments for people that could probably buy a few of the smaller countries enrolled at the UN. These men with their wives in most cases have always been the most humble of people I have encountered. Two years ago I was in Monterrey Mexico for the week on business visiting a facility that manufactures nutrients in farming. We all later met at an exclusive restaurant and was introduced to the owner of the company who happened to be sitting with us. We spent most of the evening trying the local traditional foods (I did try the ant caviar) and talking about his hunting exploits and our hunting exploits with an emphasis on collecting gators. It's wasn't until later the following day someone told me he is the 3rd richest man in Mexico.<br/> <br/> Now compare this meeting and many others I have had with the subordinates and I felt as if the rock I crawled out from was not clean enough much less myself. I have known men who wore overalls, drove a truck everyday and chewed tobacco that were worth several hundred million.<br/> <br/> So the idea we as human beings can righteously judge the local yokel based on his or her wardrobe or vehicle is very shallow at best. He may be a Supreme Court Justice on a quail shoot for the weekend. Treat everyone with dignity and compassion if possible (even if they are ideologically different) life is short...<br/> <br/> Okay enough soapbox for this week...</t>
Ralph, like you I was very blessed to associate with some humble people who were leaders in their fields and who became friends.
Not a righteous judgement... not a finite judgement. But going with the odds a great majority of the time they are not millionaires and could use a little compassion, understanding and humanity.... the likes of which isn't likely to come from the Trump regime.
Somebody clue me in how the average American middle class family can afford to send their kids to anything but a low grade privatized school that has the crappiest low paid teachers because they cannot afford anything else of higher quality and expense while at the same time they are probably grappling with no healthcare coverage. But that weathered and peeling "Make America Great Again" sign is probably standing tall on their lawn in their white middle class neighborhood... :roll: :shock:
Haven't you been listening to Obama brag about how well the country is doing? Eight years the guy has been in the White House and the average American is still on hard times. What kind of moron could have voted for him twice?
Okay first item is how special are we to consider we can send our kids to a private school...I just read the other day that at $71,000 a year you are in the top 10% of all Americans. I and most on this board have no clue what a private school is about, we mainly trudged our way to the local public school..Am I making more than the said ratio at the moment, yes sir and I appreciate every dollar of it....Is it guaranteed that I will be able to send my kids to school outside of public education. Personally it never crossed my mind as I could not afford it...Is this the fault of my employer or govt, ahhhh, no...... Healthcare...Everyone here knows the importance to me as I've enjoyed watching my son walk around normally...Does this mean my govt. (Once again) should be paying for this? I think not....It's up to me to work hard and find a company that offers such expenditures...It's not owed to me.... Do I see many weathered MAGA signs in yards, no I don't. Did I ever have one, nope....Am I white, yep...Is that a problem, well only for liberals evidently. Since liberals are only about identity politics looking for a label to chastise and berate I guess it's important...
Most Americans cannot afford private schools for their kids Ralph. There won't be an option soon if public school is de-funded. Nice to think all people have to do is work hard to have healthcare.... but life doesn't always cooperate.... and sometimes things don't work out.... especially sometimes for those that need healthcare the most. This new "let them eat cake" style of government is going to eventually wear thin on most Americans.
Ralph and Dave, if by "private schools" you are talking about charter schools, I would like to respectfully correct a misconception. Charter schools are public schools. In Indiana you must have a sponsor to start a charter school. That sponsor must be a viable financial entity. Two examples of sponsors in our state are the City of Indianapolis and Ball State University. Charter schools are not an automatic panacea for the perceived issues of public schools. Some fail. Others operate on a shoe string even with state support. Some are successful. Yes, they give parents a choice. They are attractive to some families primarily because of the smaller class size, but there is a legitimate debate on the quality of the education vs. a public school system. They tend to be most successful in large cities, where the public schools are suffering from eroded tax bases, which lead to reduced budgets, which lead to less than optimum facilities, class sizes and curriculums. I could go on, but you get the picture.