My autobiography and views of elitism on Locally Grown Northfield
April 23rd, 2008,Following Barack Obama’s “elitist” comments about the residents of small towns, our local blog extraordinaire, Locally Grown Northfield, hosted a discussion about snobbery and elitism Northfield-style. In the comments, see my own take on class and elitism (with autobiographical details) and my views on the hidden agendas of those who call others elitist. Below is a quote from the latter. Note that Northfield is a town with two liberal arts colleges, St. Olaf and Carleton:
Perhaps some of the frustration certain people have with the educational status/intellectual elites in Northfield is that those elites lay claim to power and influence that other elites want to leave for themselves.
April 26th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Just looked at your comments at “Locally Grown,” Bill. Thanks. I left a comment of my own.
I think charges of “elitism” come mostly from people who are lazy or jealous.
Having said that, it is true that rural Americans suffer from discrimination. They are discounted by educated urbanites time and again.
Moreover, they really don’t have a political voice (apart from being able to obtain farm subsidies.) That’s a problem.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Very interesting discussion. Late though I am to the table, I’ve now read and appreciated comments by both of you.
I agree that there are different types of elitism. But I don’t shy from usage of the term in discussing power in society and government. To do so would be fairly absurd.
Unhappily for Americans, power in our system is typically measured by a simple metric — wealth — the single most important qualifier for office. Our ruling class is wealthy. They’re (nearly) all elites.
For reasons, then, that aren’t very mysterious, neither party in the duopoly wishes to make class an issue. Hence the past quarter century of uninterrupted Reaganism: government of, by, and for the wealthy, with subsidiary soft distractions dangled before us poorer voters to keep us engaged and them in power.
If America had a discussion about these matters, its miseries in war, housing, jobs and food prices would come into clearer focus — interests might be understood, consequences reckoned — and we could start on the path to reform.
Barring that discussion, expect more of the same!