Surviving Capitalism (Not) : This Summer, the War of Old Money and New Fame Rages on

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Saturday, August 7, 2010

This Summer, the War of Old Money and New Fame Rages on

by Jamie Johnson from Vanity Fair.

It is always a good idea to keep in touch with all of our fellow Americans even if they are from the 1%. This is this week's offering of their lives and concerns. From the article you learn that one preoccupation they have is all the attention that celebrities get instead of them. Actually, I don't agree. From my albeit limited knowledge of the old rich, they really don't like a lot of attention drawn to themselves outside of their own immediate circles.

But maybe what Johnson is addressing is only when celebrities invade their stomping grounds at such places as Aspen, The Hamptons, Nantucket, Monaco, etc, and receive so much attention. In any case, you can see how it would be annoying to them. And you can thank your lucky stars that you don't have to worry about that.