Lee Harris has a fascinating article in Policy Review about the radical alienation that now exists between elite opinion makers and ordinary Americans. The theme of this discussion is taken from his new book, The Next American Civil War: The Populist Revolt Against The Liberal Elite, which I purchased at Barnes and Noble earlier this afternoon.
The discussion goes deep into the realm of social psychology and political theory. Harris persuasively argues that Americans - liberals and conservatives alike - are subtly influenced by their peer groups. The cultural elite uses prestige and status to mold what is considered "mainstream opinion" on any given issue. He concludes the Tea Party represents a revolutionary threat to the liberal status quo because of its contempt for intellectual respectability.
For the past fifty years, the ideal of meritocracy has held sway in United States. Americans with high IQs and test scores have been funneled through elite academia into the ruling class without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, or ideology. This brainy new elite has adopted a series of cultural markers to define itself against the hoi polloi left behind in flyover country.
These people have adopted various progressive beliefs like the idea that technocrats should rule and that the federal government should be trusted and given far reaching new powers to transform American society in order to achieve "social justice." Intellectuals have always been perceived as being radically out of touch with ordinary people. What makes the present political environment so dangerous is that intellectuals and technocrats are now ensconced in the political elite and the common people are openly raising the flag of revolt.
Ordinary Americans are increasingly coming to the conclusion that the political class hates their culture, looks down their noses at them, and is only interested in ruling over them and redistributing their wealth to "protected classes" of citizens - in my opinion, the truth of the matter on every count. This intolerable situation is unlikely to perpetuate itself indefinitely.
It could be resolved through a popular, lawful, and peaceful revolt like that of the Republicans vs. the Federalists in the 1790s or the Jacksonians vs. the National Republicans in the 1820s. More ominously, the alienation between Red America and Blue America could grow to the point where it results in secession and violent conflict like the War Between the States of the 1860s.
Harris begins The Next Civil War with the story of Scott Brown's stunning victory in Massachusetts back in January. In the most liberal states of the Union, the backlash against the progressive ruling class can and has produced political casualties. This is a comforting thought to those of us who prefer reform to revolution.
A more comprehensive review will be posted later this week. Read the article, watch the YouTube video, buy the book, and share your own thoughts.
