Elites and Elitism-what is it?

musicismylife78

I have heard those phrases with more and more consistancy this election cycle.

What does it mean? I know its often directed at Obama and its a phrase uttered by conservatives.

What does it mean to be elitist and be elite?

To me, I immediately think of some ivy leaguer or Vampire weekend, or some yacht club or crew club member or something.

But is that what the term indicates?

sponger

It indicates a desire to distance one's self from others via a perceived status of superiority.

teskeinc

To me its the people who ate from the silver spoons their whole lives. If youre family is ultra-wealthy and you went to private schools and on to the best universities you are elite. Or a politcal family using nepotism.

sponger

Well, teskeinc described cultural elitism.

There are other forms of elitism.

For example, there is academic elitism. An example is a group of mathematicians who make a ground breaking discovery in mathematics, but limit outside exposure to that discovery in order to maintain their status as academic elites. That is, of course, in the absence of any kind of patent, which wouldn't apply to mathematics anyway I don't think.

Coveting knowledge for the sake of maintaining status basically sums up academic elitism.

Another example of academic elitism is when influential members of a certain field of study demand that their consultation be required even in instances when it is not required.

g under p

teskeinc wrote:

To me its the people who ate from the silver spoons their whole lives. If youre family is ultra-wealthy and you went to private schools and on to the best universities you are elite. Or a politcal family using nepotism.

I work for a family like that except their spoons wasn't made out of silver. It was more like platnium.

Peace

OutOfBreath

There are many kinds. Genrally speaking the best and brightest and richest in some area would be the elite. They are the elite because they have more of something than others. Be that skill, knowledge, money whatever.

Elitism is a concept that is usually derogative in meaning, where there is an accustion of this group of best/brightest/richest only care for their own interests, and believe that they are set above the rest.

As for a presidential candidate accusing another for elitism, well..... Pot, kettle. Kettle, pot. You are not a presidential candidate without being in an elite of some kind. As for elitism, it's usually very hard to judge. To some, it's a catch-all phrase to indicate why rich/successful people aren't nice people, and it's ok for us non-elite to hate them.

Peace
Dan

digster

According to the esteemed Karl Rove, this is what they mean when they say Obama is an elitist:

"Even if you never met him, you know this guy," Rove said, per Christianne Klein. "He's the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by."

So that kind of holier-than-thou, not looking out for the little person, kind of thing. It's very funny that Rove called Obama a country-club elitist, since I doubt Karl Rove's country club would ever let Obama in.

And that is quote is indeed real.

Kann

OutOfBreath wrote:

There are many kinds. Genrally speaking the best and brightest and richest in some area would be the elite. They are the elite because they have more of something than others. Be that skill, knowledge, money whatever.

If you use this definition of an Elite then it definitely isn't a bad thing. A lot of jobs are reserved, and rightly so, to an elite. Astronauts, surgeons, airline pilots etc., these people have more of something (intelligence, dedication, physical condition...) than others. Now some people seem to consider that being president of the usa is not like these jobs, but more of a regular office job. I'd disagree, but it's all a matter of opinion (and after all, presidents, however unique they are, all have advisors)

jimed14

When I hear "elitism" ... it makes me think the Bush and Palin like supporters, you know ... they like candidates you'd like to have a beer with.

Well, these people call Obama "elite" ... becuase he's all smart and stuff, he's done all that book learnin' ...

These poeple who want someone "just like them" in office are just as stupid as the people they elect ...

Give me the brainiac for my president, please.

DriftingByTheStorm

The Global Elite: Who Are They?

That should help.

sweetpotato

radiohead33 wrote:

I have heard those phrases with more and more consistancy this election cycle.

What does it mean? I know its often directed at Obama and its a phrase uttered by conservatives.

What does it mean to be elitist and be elite?

To me, I immediately think of some ivy leaguer or Vampire weekend, or some yacht club or crew club member or something.

But is that what the term indicates?

there are tomes dedicated to answering just these sorts of inquiries... they're called DICTIONARIES. :rolleyes:

but to answer the question in terms of our media culture's definition of "elite" or "elitist", they (the talking heads, usually on venerable stations such as Fox) actually mean "smarter than us (which isn't difficult), therefore inherently untrustworthy." you see, if anyone we are already suspicious of- like, say, a black man who doesn't talk like a gangbanger- gets up in front of people and starts shooting his educated mouth off about the economy and the environment and ending the war and failed policies of the current administration, well we just ain't goin' for that. we can't really lynch 'em no more, so how's about we accuse him of being "elitist"? yeah, that'll piss off the dumbass whitefolk. nothin' they hate more than a smart darkie.

of course, the term "elite" really means "the best", so really it's a compliment, wrapped in an enigma. or whatever that thing is they talked about in the matrix.

yoke

radiohead33 wrote:

But is that what the term indicates?

Basically its people who have low 10C#'s and get front row for every show while being able to get little perks like Pic's,tambourines,setlists etc... You having a low # get to see the band from about 60 rows back and never get anything other than what you are meant to get(meaning a kick ass show)..

Pacomc79

Elitists by nature would be people who view their opinions as higher than that of the general population due to thier life experience, knowledge, education, breeding, upbringing, interests etc.

Elites are typically thought of from an economic perspective. A dividing line... or the top #1% of income earners or holders as I hear it used generally.

Enkidu

I don't understand how people can complain that Obama is "elite" and not talk about idiot-head Bush with his $$ and Yale education or Cindy McCain and her 100 mill suds fortune. I guess there's "smart elite" and "money elite," is that it? Smart elite is bad, money elite is good.

Is it time for the debate yet?