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In reply to the discussion: frankly, what I think we're doing here, is documenting the last gasps of democracy. Updated [View all]MFrohike
(1,980 posts)It does make the speaker at least sound elitist. That being said, there's a difference between being elitist and being correct about something that is confused in the popular mind. I don't think this is one of those cases, but it does happen.
I wouldn't dismiss Mencken out of hand. Racist and believing in elite rule describes most Americans throughout history. We see plenty of unconscious, and sometimes conscious racism, in everyday life. Given that slavery and its continuing infection are the history of the country, it's not something we're likely to escape soon. As for elite rule, I see plenty of posts on DU everyday attesting to that preference. Everytime I see someone essentially say it's a matter of just electing the right people, I have to shake my head. The right people have never done anything without public pressure.*
*I've read enough of your posts to realize that you know this quite well. Please don't take it as lecturing. Think of it as stating the obvious.
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