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Originally Posted by shakran
This illustrates the trouble with your point of view. You assume all journalists are upper-crust snobs out of touch with the common man.
I got my degree from a midwest state school, too, and I drink my coffee black. I started my career making significantly less than a shift manager at McDonalds. I could quit right now and double my salary by becoming a PR flunky for some mid-level corporation. I'm not rich, I'm not elite, and I frankly resent the implication that just because I happen to know how to write a coherent sentence and get it broadcast on television, I must be some elitist bastard snob.
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Huh, I had no idea you were a journalist and writer. You elitist fucking snob. Err, I mean that's interesting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shakran
Precisely. The neo-cons have brainwashed a certain susceptible subset of the population into thinking that elite is bad, and dumbassery is good. Elite gets shit done. Elite should be something to aspire to, not to shun. It's amazing how backward we've become.
We've become a society where improving ourselves is considered bad. Where gaining experience in a job is a bad thing (Washington insiders!). The problem is not that they have been in Washington for a long time. The problem is that they have been in Washington for a long time making dumbassed decisions.
Plus, it's hypocritical. Had GWB been able to run for a 3rd term, neocons would have voted for him. Why? He is now not only a Washington insider, but the most highly placed Washington insider. Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms were both Washington insiders. If republicans think Washington insiders are such a bad idea, why the hell did they keep re-electing them?
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Not sure I'd use the term brainwashing or not but the neo-cons and their taking head water carriers have manage an amazing feat. They've managed to convince a whole lot of people that being elite is a bad thing. Yet at the same time they've managed to also sell it that being super rich isn't elitist or a CEO of a major corporation is worth every dime they make... sometimes even if the company is losing money. In a way they've manage to sell a new definition of the term elite. I've always understood the term elite to mean either a group within a society made up of those with high intellect, social, or economic status. Or a the most skilled member(s) of a group. Now it seems a ton of people use the term elite in a context that seems to mean a know it all type person that thinks they're better then everyone else. I hear, over and over again, comments like "that elitist, latte sipping snob." It's early here I'm enjoying my morning coffee. I too usually drink my coffee black but every once and while I'll have a latte. This morning is one of those morning. I must be an elitist latte sipping snob. Perhaps we should get together for an annual elitist fucking snob meeting? Though I'm not sure I'll fit in since my latte is from a box mix mainly made by Nestle (just add hot water,) that I buy at Wal-Mart.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shakran
And I point out again, that you made judgements based on something that you assumed, without even as much evidence as a diploma. Are you calling yourself a pseudointellectual, or do unique rules apply to you?
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Pseudo intellectual is like the term elite, I don't even know what it means any more. The goal lines on the meaning of words and issues in general seems to be changing constantly, IMO. People who I consider to be intellectuals are suddenly pseudo intellectual and people I would consider pseudo intellectual are suddenly common folks with good common sense. Most of the time these common folks with good common sense lack any and all common sense, again IMO. I've sat and watched the actions of GWB and I see someone with little in common with common people. He strikes me as a guy who was born on third base and seems to think he hit a triple. Yet many people I know tell me they like GWB because he a lot like them, just a common down home guy that they'd probably enjoy having a beer with. I hear stuff like that and think- really? You think a guy like GWB is just like you? Do you think you could get a legacy admittance into an Ivy League school?
Nothing seems to mean what I thought it meant. I read Ace's posts and I'd swear he's a hard core free market capitalists. At the same time I read "Power to the People! Who cares what the elite thinks.' I immediately think Marxism and socialism. Up is down, down is up and I have no idea what the most basic terms mean anymore.