Another Angle Entirely

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TPM Reader RD has a totally different take on ‘the brittle grip‘. I don’t think most of it is this. But perhaps some of it does have to do with the changing nature of how we communicate. Of course, these two categories of explanation are perhaps more porous than we imagine …

I have been (re) reading these articles and was trying to get my head around of “why now” are they (the .01 percent) becoming demonstrative about basically being “called out” in the media. I think Josh is hearing the issue but has not yet offered a reason. After thinking back over 65 + years I can offer one idea: They have not really changed at all with their outrage.

Rich people have always complained that everyone was after them and they would be “offended” at such “outrages” of being “spoken to” in a way they do not believe they warranted. Having grown up in the 50s and 60s in a Connecticut wealthy town, I certainly heard them complain that the “average” man just did not know how hard they had it. You know… working and making millions a day is much, much harder than working all day as a plumber or other non-financial jobs or running companies.

However, those comments were always in private (for the most part) in a time when media did not report every work spoken or interview by the wealthy. We don’t really know what they were saying behind closed doors, although I heard some of it by growing up around them.

Now fast forward to today with over 20 years of some level of Internet which has changed the entire course of conversations. A previous private conversation (even if it was in a college lecture hall) would never have been known… today it is front page on many media outlets. The Internet once again has changed for ever how people interact with others. No more hiding or having your “private” thoughts unknown by the general public. That can’t happen for anyone who is wealthy and has engaged in any kind of public discourse. Same for politicians.

So I conclude the attitude has not changed, the wealthy people have never not been complaining but the Internet has changed the audience. This of course over time may have the effect of keeping some wealthy out of the public eye or as with other be a part of the daily conversations. In either case they will not change their attitudes.

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