A ruling class puts it stamp of culture on the entire society: its values, behaviors, beliefs, etc. This is well illustrated by the example of Lance Armstrong and his ignoble history in sports. Of course, not everyone succumbs to such sociopathic behaviors seen everyday among leading figures in the ruling class, but those with latent sociopathic inclinations such as Armstrong are easily seduced by the rewards of fame and fortune to engage in such despicable behavior.
...the cycling champion’s ruthless outlook did not come out of the blue. Armstrong matured in the Reagan-Bush-Clinton years, when the “free market,” selfishness and greed were worshipped at every turn by the entire media and political establishment. “Force works,” declared the Wall Street Journal following the war on Iraq in 1990-91, and the notion that bullying and violence were the solution to each and every problem was communicated through the political system, popular culture and the sports industry.
One doesn’t want to exaggerate, but Armstrong, in his intimidation tactics, relentless, almost provocative, lying, and his apparent belief he could get away with anything, seems to have borrowed more than a little from official America’s relations with the rest of the globe over the past two decades.