The new American Aristocracy

In his two volume classic Democracy in America, published way back in 1840, Alexis de Tocqueville made the case that as a result of the American Revolution and subsequent ratification of the US Constitution, that aristocracies around the world were gradually beginning to die out.


HA! Not so fast my friend! Here in America, where the dagger that supposedly killed off the aristocracy was forged, the idea of equality is gradually beginning to die out. Over the weekend FOX news aired a special called Boomtown. It covers the new American aristocracy. Guess where that aristocracy is centered? Surprise, surprise, surprise, it’s centered in Washington D.C.

The great minds at Breitbart were behind the special.  The particulars can be found here.

There are hundreds upon hundreds of examples the Washington grandees looting the treasury to lavish themselves in personal luxury but suffice it to say, the American ruling class, lifetime politicians in Washington D.C., have used their positions to enrich themselves, their families, their friends and the special interests that keep them in power.

Lex has been calling entrenched pols in Washington D.C. the “ruling class” since reading Throw Them All Out by Peter Schweizer. De Tocqueville calls for limited government that promotes civil society. Today it would seem society – civil or otherwise - exists to promote government.

The ruling class lavishes themselves with great advantage in every aspect of life while telling society they don’t deserve the same. The ruling class goes to great lengths to protect themselves and their families from society with heavily armed guards, but the rulers are bent on denying society even the constitutionally protected right to keep and bear the arms they deem necessary for the task of defending themselves.

No doubt the rulers know that an armed society is the greatest risk to their good thing. At some point these armed citizens might just get fed up with the ruling class. The rulers know they can fix an election or two but a revolution is bit harder to predict, particularly when there are nearly 300 million guns out there the overwhelming majority of which are under the control of commoners.