Current Events — HabitableZone

Current Events » in reply to Re: You might want to read it twice

Beside the point

It's not personal, nor is the here-and-now relevant.

Gilder was describing a process that, over time, concentrates both wealth and power in a small elite distinguished by its ability to get rich. This is a lather-rinse-repeat thing:

…the same people who prove by previous entrepreneurial experiments that they are capable of creating wealth get to control the next phase of investment…
I don't see anything in that formula that encourages outsiders to break into the club...no sign of that pesky "upward mobility" thing that we all swear is central to American values. It's naked elitism, nothing more.

Can you see how that process, if allowed to continue a generation or so, leads to the creation of an aristocracy? It's a simple process. First there's dynastic wealth, because of course the rich are entitled to bequeath their spawn a pile of loot. And then over time it becomes obvious that the innate competency of the parents, as proven by their possession of a big pile of moola, must be genetic, because look at how their kids also seem to accrue great wealth with an effortless panache. Evolution in action! They are living proof that economic competition breeds better humans!

Log in or register to post.

The whole thread (27 posts)

Related discussions