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#20A ELITISM

I have problems with democracy. I say most people are ill-prepared to vote /decide what’s best for society. I don’t trust assemblies of such people; I fear their collective strength. Society is best served by a select group of leaders. Highly educated, trained, and groomed to wield power—perhaps even manage centrally planned economies— they should maintain law and order, promote production of wealth, and guide the masses. (Note: Elitists often identify with capital not labor, and with experts not the people’s collective wisdom. In democracies, some use money to magnify their voices and manipulate outcomes.)

More Information About This Worldview Theme

a club WV Theme...

...individual <---> group

the theme is paired with: #21A  Idealistic Populism   to make Choice #30   in the Choices We Make cards 

this theme as presented in older version of theme structure:  version 1.0  version 2.0    version 3.0        is this theme new to version 4?--NO

click to look at the Project Worldview Cultural Literacy Encyclopedia Related Words, Beliefs, Background articles for the above choice 

 Project Worldview authored discussion, Worldview Watch related issues, songs, etc.  

Discussion from The Worldview Literacy Book Songs
Worldview Watch issue #45, posted 7/29/2015 Confucius, Singapore, China, and Political Meritocracy 
Worldview Watch issue #36: Kennedy, Shakespeare, Conspiracism, Elitism, and Missing the Real Story
Worldview Watch issue #3: Populism vs. Elitism

Wikipedia articles related to this theme:

Aristocracy Elitism social stratification  
criticism of democracy Meritocracy Academic Elitism 
Oligarchy Mixed Government elective monarchy
Social Class elite theory  plutocracy
 

 worldview internal inconsistency related: Strongly valuing this theme and any of the themes in the list below is a contradiction:

#1A   Humbly Unsure    #4 Spreading Disinformation / Tactical Deception #24A  Struggling With A Basic Need: Sustenance   #31   Education for Democracy  
#36B  Conspiracies #48B  Liking Co-operation-Based Communities   #50B Left Anarchist   #103B Celebrating Team Accomplishments
   
   

More to Explore -- Worldview Theme #20A: Elitism 

In Focus: What is Elitism?
"Plato: The Failure of Democracy and Platonic Elitism in Modern Times" (Frostburg State U. philosophy forum)
The making of America’s Ivy League elite (from The Economist July 29 2023)
China’s Elitist Covid Rules  (article from The Economist April 23 2022)
“Turns out, Harvard students aren’t that smart after all” by Tayo Bero (about “affirmative action for the rich and privileged” from The Guardian Nov 17 2021)
“America's Black Elite”  (article from The Economist August 22 2020)
10% Less Democracy--Whu You Should Trust Elites a Little More and the Masses a Little Less by Garett Jones (book review from The Economist February 15 2020)
In Defense of Elitism, by William A. Henry III (review of this 1995 book by writer for Time magazine )
"How the Left Embraced Elitism" by David Brooks  (article in New York Times   Feb 12 2019)
The Sum of Small Things: A Theory of the Aspirational Class by Elizabeth Currid-Halkett (a 2017 book about what the elite spend their money on, link to author’s website)
"Eton and the Making of the Modern Elite" by Christopher de Bellaigue (article in 1843 magazine August 2016)
The Future of the Firm (a report on McKinsey, the world's leading management consulting firm in The Economist Sep 21 2013)
"Social Mobility in America--The Meritocracy Paradox" (article from The Economist Feb 9 2013)
"Embarrassed Meritocrats" (opinion piece re: Chinese meritocracy in The Economist Oct 27 2012)
Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy by Christopher Hayes (more on this 2012 book from Amazon)
The Revolt of the Rich by Mike Lofgren (Aug 27 2012 article in The American Conservative re "financial elites") 
"The Death of Meritocracy" (article in The Economist Feb 11 2012)
"A Crisis from the Top: The Unwisdom of Elites" by Paul Krugman (May 9, 2011 NY Times article)
"The Case for Elitism" by Emer O'Kelly (position paper from The Arts Council in Ireland)
"The False Accusation of Elitism", by Linda Silverman (essay on gifted education and charges of elitism)
"Superiority Complex: We have democratized elitism..."
Environmental Elitism
On the Meaning of Elitism (animal rights perspective)
Elitism vs. Checks & Balances in Communicating Scientific Information to the Public, by Arthur Kantrowitz
Yes I'm an Elitist, and Why That Doesn't Mean I Hate You
The Elitism Myth
Wealth and Democracy, by Kevin Phillips (excerpts from this book)
The Meritocracy Myth (book by UNC sociologists)
In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best Run Companies (read this 2004 book at Google Books)
Dictionary of Vocational Psychology: Elitism
quotes related to elitism

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"As you shop in "The Reality Marketplace" avoid spending your "reality cash" too early,  before you have seen everything. " 
from Coming of Age in the Global Village,  by Stephen P. Cook,  with Donella H. Meadows. 

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