One of the most astounding things in the upside-down world of American politics is that, for much of the country, "elites" aren't corrupt governors and congressmen, owners of megacorporations, leaders of influential PACs and pressure groups–i.e., people with actual power; instead, for them "elites" are the *least* influential, *least* powerful, and generally the most oppressed minority groups: racial, linguistic, and religious minorities, LGBTQ+ people, and the disabled.
And the feared activities of these so-called "elites" amount to–pleading for some approach to equality and fair treatment. Somehow that's supposed to be a threat.
I can't tell why. I'm not afraid that people different from me should be my equals. For me that opens the door to more freedom, not less; and, conversely, the more narrowly rights are limited, the more circumscribed my life gets.
@DavidSalo Some people just seem to need someone else they can step on so they can feel better about their own miserable existence. At least that’s what it seems like to me. My dad was that way, he grew up dirt poor and carried that chip on his shoulder his entire life. He was a horrible
racist. Mom told me that he wasn’t always like that, it started when black people started fighting for equality.
@agunn @DavidSalo Yep, that’s my family.
@cjcrew @DavidSalo The quote attributed to LBJ could've been describing some of my relatives, and sounds like some of yours too: "If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."