I liked this piece and have the same experience and theory. However, I would go further to make the case that elites lacking life experience and perspective for lower class life experience and perspective are, in fact, the most unqualified of people to hold any position of influence or leadership. They are largely and justifiably identifiable as dysfunctional thinkers on organizational, social and political topics. They are in fact ignorant while believing they are supremely righteous. That is a dangerous combination.
I grew up in a Frontier Culture. In this culture the elites gained their status because they earned it. Most had been officers in the Canadian Army in WWII and had as a core value that "Officers took care of their men". About 15 years ago, I was picking up one of these men for a meeting (Ex- CEO of a major telecom company, & owned much of Calgary's downtown) and realized that even in his old age, he still knew the names of his security guards children. He commanded respect from everyone, because he was interested in them. This made him very different from the current generation of leaders. He commanded respect, they only have wealth & power.
Yes, the achievement of elite status was from demonstrated success in productive endeavors. Changes to the economy brought on by elite's economic policies diminished this and gave rise to the elite looter class. Looters feed off the production of others. It is the classic trajectory of running out of other people's money as we stop inventing, making, building, growing and fixing real tangible goods, and we reward people for trading on the declining inventory of our real tangible goods. As the looters have made the US their ATM with declining assets to loot, they went global. So now they are defending globalism because it is required for continued growth of their looting sandbox.
Am excellent and timely piece, thanks! Given yesterday's events in the USA the impact of the elite and their view of the "deplorables" in America has come home to roost. The complete lack of understanding of how difficult life is for most people is also part of the elite Canadian political and media fabric. Freeland and other Liberal's characterization of Conservatives and their followers as backward, uncaring and the invocation of a popular wave amongst the people rising up against the presumably unworthy cloistered in their gated communities. Pleasant imagery from those who continually vote for raises in their own pay while people suffer from poor economic policy. The painting of Poilievre as the second coming of Trump, the populist despot who dupes his followers with disinformation as they, the "deplorables" must lack the ability to discern the truth themselves. How else could they vote for them? The "deplorables" who will ruin the democracy that only they, the elite can possibly save and protect. Those, like Mr Perez, with feet in both worlds understand the useless nature of the elite's expertise and knowledge, none of which is relevant to the reality of life for the vast majority of people.
I love Perez’s writing. I first came across him in that now famous interview regarding publishing. I was blown away. I understand of what he writes about here. I grew up in an immigrant family that had resources for only the essentials. Ive “made something” of myself and fast forward to my kids private school parent socials….i feel homeless. I can navigate seamlessly but def feel like an outsider.
The great failure of the present government in Canada is that they are overwhelmingly ideological. The lack of pragmatism in the Liberal Party is seen by the elites we find there as a good thing, and yet there are wide swaths of Canadians who are not interested in their ideological schtick.
I liked this piece and have the same experience and theory. However, I would go further to make the case that elites lacking life experience and perspective for lower class life experience and perspective are, in fact, the most unqualified of people to hold any position of influence or leadership. They are largely and justifiably identifiable as dysfunctional thinkers on organizational, social and political topics. They are in fact ignorant while believing they are supremely righteous. That is a dangerous combination.
I grew up in a Frontier Culture. In this culture the elites gained their status because they earned it. Most had been officers in the Canadian Army in WWII and had as a core value that "Officers took care of their men". About 15 years ago, I was picking up one of these men for a meeting (Ex- CEO of a major telecom company, & owned much of Calgary's downtown) and realized that even in his old age, he still knew the names of his security guards children. He commanded respect from everyone, because he was interested in them. This made him very different from the current generation of leaders. He commanded respect, they only have wealth & power.
Yes, the achievement of elite status was from demonstrated success in productive endeavors. Changes to the economy brought on by elite's economic policies diminished this and gave rise to the elite looter class. Looters feed off the production of others. It is the classic trajectory of running out of other people's money as we stop inventing, making, building, growing and fixing real tangible goods, and we reward people for trading on the declining inventory of our real tangible goods. As the looters have made the US their ATM with declining assets to loot, they went global. So now they are defending globalism because it is required for continued growth of their looting sandbox.
Am excellent and timely piece, thanks! Given yesterday's events in the USA the impact of the elite and their view of the "deplorables" in America has come home to roost. The complete lack of understanding of how difficult life is for most people is also part of the elite Canadian political and media fabric. Freeland and other Liberal's characterization of Conservatives and their followers as backward, uncaring and the invocation of a popular wave amongst the people rising up against the presumably unworthy cloistered in their gated communities. Pleasant imagery from those who continually vote for raises in their own pay while people suffer from poor economic policy. The painting of Poilievre as the second coming of Trump, the populist despot who dupes his followers with disinformation as they, the "deplorables" must lack the ability to discern the truth themselves. How else could they vote for them? The "deplorables" who will ruin the democracy that only they, the elite can possibly save and protect. Those, like Mr Perez, with feet in both worlds understand the useless nature of the elite's expertise and knowledge, none of which is relevant to the reality of life for the vast majority of people.
I love Perez’s writing. I first came across him in that now famous interview regarding publishing. I was blown away. I understand of what he writes about here. I grew up in an immigrant family that had resources for only the essentials. Ive “made something” of myself and fast forward to my kids private school parent socials….i feel homeless. I can navigate seamlessly but def feel like an outsider.
The great failure of the present government in Canada is that they are overwhelmingly ideological. The lack of pragmatism in the Liberal Party is seen by the elites we find there as a good thing, and yet there are wide swaths of Canadians who are not interested in their ideological schtick.
I have just come across the writings of James Kalb. His "Tyranny of Liberalism" book (2014) looks spot on. Has anyone read it?
Trump 2024