You are too smart to understand this code word . . . [View All]

"Elitist"

The use of the term "elitist" is brilliant "dog-whistle politics": It's a diss on intelligent people put in a way that only stupid people get. If you think that being "elite" corresponds to high social and economic class, you didn't hear the whistle. If that were correct, it would be impossible for Hillary to call Barack elitist, and George W. would surely be the paragon of elitism. For such a bright person, you are being really f-cking dense about this!

It has often been remarked about George W. that he is markedly "incurious". That's a euphemism for his determined idiocy - for his refusal to use his considerable intelligence. His incuriosity makes him acceptable to those who are not bright - he's a "good guy to have a beer with" because he won't make the voters feel self-conscious about how stupid they are.

So, what's the true meaning of "elitist"? A person who regards themselves as reasonably bright. If you think you're bright, you will want other bright people to respect your opinions and beliefs as based on facts and sound reasoning. That makes you "elitist".

But if you think that you are NOT bright, you will avoid reasoned discussions that are likely to expose your incapacity. You will not like people who are smarter than you. You will not respect facts over beliefs - science over religious faith. You will dismiss global warming and the age of the earth as theories no better than your own guesses, or what your preacher, or your radio talk-show host tells you. You will be ripe for manipulation, and transparent pandering. You'll know what "elitist" means, and you'll resent the elitist candidate. You'll hear the whistle.

Of course democracy is supposed to be government of, by, and for the people. That means ALL the people, without regard to race, gender, or intelligence. But that doesn't mean that our nation will best be served by unintelligent - or by anti-intelligent - leadership. Whether they can bring themselves to acknowlege it or not, stupid people will be better off if they elect a leader who is as smart as possible - certainly smarter than they are.

If we are ever to put the Bush years behind us, we will have to break the taboo against calling stupidity stupid.