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

Friday, March 30, 2012

The Rise And Fears Of The New Elite

Click here to access article by Kenneth Rapoza from Forbes.


The floating city of Stratus, populated by social elites on the fictional planet of Ardana in the Star Trek episode "The Cloud Minders". Today's elites are most concerned about political and social unrest impacting their wealth. 









After reading the article, I think it is easy to see how the magic of capitalism makes it so convenient for the One Percent to keep grabbing more wealth without doing anything of social value: they don't cook meals, tend crying children, empty bedpans, work on an assembly line, or even function as bosses. All they need do is hire brokers to advise and invest their wealth. I really didn't get the feeling that they are very worried about the 99 Percent interfering very significantly with their wonderful lifestyle--did you? What is more interesting is how the author sees the growth of a trans-national capitalist elite.

If you are wondering: what on Earth do these people do with their time? Jamie Johnson's fine films, Born Rich and The One Percent will give you some idea.
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