Our Elites are MIA

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Our Elites are MIA

David Ignatius asked the question “why is an increasingly ‘connected’ world such a mess?” in a February article in the NY Times. More democracy and more Globalism seem to be leading to more chaos and confusion.

Thomas Friedman argues in his book “The World is Flat” that technology and more Globalism is driving the integration of the world and will lead to a better world.

Francis Fukuyama posted an essay in the New York Times Magazine, “More democracy will mean more alienation, radicalization and – yes, unfortunately – terrorism”?

The Middle East is turning into a cauldron of destruction and death. What the hell is going on? Where are our leaders? Are they out to lunch? Is this a beginning of a repeat of the twentieth century? Can humanity survive such a rebirth of such a century?

David Ignatius talked with a number of his contacts and formulated his answer to why is the world such a mess? His explanations are listed below:

  1. As elites become connected in the world they lose their ‘home’ connection.
  2. Connectedness produces local political disconnection.
  3. I will add that our elites are now ‘following the money’ and the world is their ‘oyster’.
  4. The Internet is a “rage enabler” and reinforcer.

Ignatius concludes that “The connected world is inescapable, like the global economy itself. But if we can begin to understand how it undermines political stability – how it can separate elites from masses, and how it can enhance rage rather than reason – then perhaps we will have a better chance of restabilizing a very disorderly world.”

Coberst concludes that we need to develop immediately a new ‘farm system’ for elite hood. There is a phrase from a popular post-WWI song that goes something like this “how ya goina keepem down on the farm after they’ve seen Parie”.

Do we need a new ‘farm system’ for elite hood?

nytimes.com/2006/02/19/magaz … wanted=all

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co … 01148.html

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-Imp

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I agree with Imp, here. Whenever an Op-Ed writer needs seven hundred and fifty words, it’s the easiest thing in the world to write a “things are worse now than they used to be” piece. Especially in America, where no one reads history.

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coberst, I could be wrong, but I think you’re looking at Capitalism meets Politics. Some might refer to this as Special Interests. It’s all a powerplay, really. Been going on for a while. Globalization just makes it look, well, magnified. Ha, Elitists buying the farm, that’s a good one (yes, I know what you meant). I’ll now go get some popcorn and watch the wheels of democracy (small ‘d’) turn.

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thelastwhy.ca/journal/2006/1 … aders.html

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DEB - I take another view. I am lucky enough to live in America. I get up, enjoy some coffee and a smoke. Sign on to ILP. I work at a job that I like, and which pays my bills. I hang out.

Just went to the post office to get a passport application, which is a pretty easy thing to fill out. Had a question, called, toll-free. Was politely told that it was okay that I didn’t know my ex-wife’s legal name (she has been married at least twice since me). No problem. Can have the passport in two or three weeks, for an extra fee, which I can afford (remember, I wait tables - entry level).

I have an adequate motor vehicle, which allows me to travel a bit. Many beers to choose from. Can afford clothes and shelter - I live in one room, with which I am very happy. Bought two philosophy books the other day. Retail. Good for my mind. Had dinner out Monday. Delicious. Two bottle of Portuguese Vinho Verde. Globalisation? Wine from everywhere.

Yesterday, I bought a $100.00 gift certificate for the daughter of a friend, so she can do some back-to-school shopping. I can spare it - again, entry-level job. I enjoy my life - trip to England coming up, if I get up the nerve to fly.

Flying. Commonplace now, in the West. We’re lucky.

What is wrong, here? How can I get the nerve to enjoy my life and not the nerve to fly? The nerve to enjoy my life in the face of evil - these leaders? How dare I tend to my own garden, and refuse to suffer? What are they doing to me? Lots, I suppose, but I enjoy this life. Somehow.

I am basically shiftless, unambitious and happy. That is a luxury for which I am grateful. It’s a product of the system, not something that happens despite it.

I guess I am as despicable as my leaders.

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faust says–“I am basically shiftless, unambitious and happy. That is a luxury for which I am grateful. It’s a product of the system, not something that happens despite it.”

We who live in the same country or similiar countries are fortunate that our past generations have made this possible. I feel that I owe these people something and the only to repay them is to do what I can to pass on to the following generations such a treasure.

It is a sign of maturity of a youngster when that youngster recognizes and accepts responsibility.

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Call me irresponsible.

But past generations have been just as wasteful and hedonistic as I am. We built this country on greed. Lest we forget.

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But who is this ‘we’ who must do all sorts of things to prevent other things from happening? Is it we westerners, of which group I am part, we americans, of which group i’m not part, or we the world of which i’m part but which is so differentiated that it is impossible to speak fo a we?
Interconnectedness? we still speak different languages, so westerners speak in english, arbabs in arabic, chinese in chinese, etc. There is no real interconnectedness between different cultures. Besides, internet is not as readily available in the middle east as for us, both because of dictatorship and bombings. I do not think interconnectedness on a communication level has begun yet - we can share pornography - certainly, but not thoughts. For that we’d have to do more than turn on the computer.
A question: do you want to be interconnected with muslim arabs? If so, you’d have to get involved with what they do, not with what english translations of things some of them have supposedly said.
I think one problem with this new interconnectedness is that it enables us to take notice of the customs of people with whom we could possible connect - resulting in repulsion and fear. Interconnectedness results in a lot of people deciding they’d really rather not interconnect after all.

Of course this is only the other side of the coin - internet may not work for transgressing culture, but within a culture it is a great tool.

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faust, I don’t have time to keep the same conversation with you going on two different threads so this will be short. This thread was about leaders. I gave my view. You read it. Thanks. Hedonistic? Hardly. How much did you spend including wine? Greed is when you steal the shirt off your mother’s back not when you give $100 to your friend’s daughter. One room is a light-year away from conspicuous consumption. faust, you are a pretender. You have no leader. If you are not careful you are going to slide down the slippery slope into a pool of compassion. My guess is you will not find yourself in the group that feels they have to give something back because they took too much in the first place.

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I’ve been “made”. Very perceptive. You’re right, of course - I have no leader.

But I benefit from the greed of others, by which point I will stand. They set this all up for me - this country, and all the perqs that go along with living here.

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I believe that the connections have always been there…Just as all knowledge already exists.
Someone has go out there and find the ‘dot’.
It seems like the ‘Elites’ realise this and are on their way to linking up the most dots etc. Why should anyone try and stop this?
Is it too complex? For whom is it complex?

I say, join the boat, teach and learn, buy and sell. Otherwise choose the alternative.

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they are busy cooking up that cauldron. :angry:

leaders are bound to let you down.

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More chaos than what? More confusion than when? World War II? The Crusades? The Roman Empire’s fall? Do these things sound like environments you would rather be in?

How is this going to happen?

What the hell are you talking about? There have been wars there over the same things since long before the current crises.

“1” and “2” are not permanent or fundamental effects of globalization, “3” has always happened, and I don’t understand “4.”

The term “elite” and the idea that we should garner the organization of society around it are fundamentally flawed. If we try to limit the actions of people directly such that people deemed elite will be restricted to evenly distributed regions, we cannot escape the segregation of ideas and people themselves along those same regions. Hence, your argument would be what would lead to a repeat in history as these inexorably divided “farms” would still desire world power, and would seek it to the point of conflict with the others. The modern world’s answer to this is to unify the world through the economy and knowledge; quite naturally, this answer isn’t completely nor perfectly implemented, but it is certainly a better world than it has been before today.

As it happens, I think part of the problem is that people still think there should be some fantastic human beings on pedestals telling everyone what to do and what to think; that isn’t the best way for society to be managed. The elites are missing (at least some of the time) because they never really existed.

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Alun

Ignatius means that events of the last few months are more chaotic than in the months before. To fully understand Ignatius and Fukuyama you will need to read their statements.

Elites lose their connection to their home nations and communities because they are becoming citizens of the world rather than citizens of a nation or local district. This trend has been accentuated because of the globalization of the world’s economy. Elites now have further and greater domains for chasing after money.

Elites in America are the leaders of our major corporations, great banks, Ivy League universities, major think tanks, military, government–national and local etc. All societies have elites but ours are now being pulled away from their past connection with their nation and community because of globalization.

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Again, my response is that, first, “elites” aren’t as important as you think. Second, that trying to force elites to a specific area is exactly what led the world to be what it is now; the trend naturally went away from such divisions. Third, generally, isn’t globalization better for us than the divided world and distributed elites approach?

What “elite” means to me is “an individual with more resources”; I agree that it is not good for the world if the people with the most simply keep getting more, however, I don’t think this can happen indefinitely, even without an organized attempt at solving the problem. A lone person is valuable; not just morally, but economically. It is less efficient to keep a lower caste, or to otherwise lock people out, because they could potentially be helping society. I don’t think the answers to today’s porblems will best be found by trying to dig up our elites, but by aiming to make elites obsolete.