Joe Bageant knows a lot about America's problems. He also understands America's working class because he's a member. Well, he probably doesn't do too much work, anymore, usually associated with working class folks, but he sure did at one time. He's a writer now. A really good one. I read his latest book, Deer Hunting with Jesus - Dispatches from America's Class War, and it was one of the most influential pieces of truth I've read in a long time. Mr. Bageant's insight, coupled with a biting humor that's unquestionably right-on, left me wanting more. I read his blog regularly and am a loyal disciple, for he is a prophet of our time -- truly. I look forward to reading his next book, due out this fall. The following is his latest article. If you've never seen things through the hologram as he describes them, maybe you haven't been paying attention. Maybe it's time.
from joebageant.com
Understanding America's Class System
by Joe Bageant
How about them political elites, huh? Five million bucks for Chelsea Clinton's wedding, 15K just to rent the air-conditioned shitters -- huge chrome and glass babies with hot water and everything. No gas masks and waxy little squares of toilet paper for those guys.
Yes, it looks big time from the cheap seats. But the truth is that when we are looking at the political elite, we are looking at the dancing monkey, not the organ grinder who calls the tune. Washington's political class is about as upwardly removed from ordinary citizens as the ruling class is from the political class. For instance, they do not work for a living in the normal sense of a job, but rather obtain their income from abstractions such as investment and law, neither of which ever gave anybody a hernia or carpal tunnel. By comparison, the ruling class does not work at all.
Moneywise, Washington's political class is richer than the working class by the same orders of magnitude as the ruling class is richer than the political class. This gives the political class something to aim for. To that end, they have adopted the ruling elite's behaviors, tastes and lifestyles, with an eye on becoming members. Moreover, it is a molting process that begins with the right university and connections, and culminates in flying off to Washington with the rest of your generation's most privileged and ambitious young moths. (Read the rest by clicking here.)
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