The Other Other Half (Rich, liberal Dems)

The American Prowler/The American Spectator ^ | 9/26/03 | Shawn Macomber

[jocon307]

I know these people. My beloved Aunt & Uncle are New Hampshire Dems, late of Boston.

[martin_fierro]

Before I could answer, another man, in a Brooks Brothers suit, marched up and demanded to be heard. "The core issue nobody wants to talk about, not even Dean, is we need to start the process of liquidating the assets of the fat cats in this country and get about redistributing the wealth," he sermonized.

Sounds great. Let's start with those bourgeoise who can afford Brooks Brothers suits, Comrade.

[Aracelis]

I know a few of these types, too. Wouldn't give you the sweat off their brow (if they ever do sweat) unless it made them look more fashionable than the next rich liberal.

Great article.

[wizardoz]

I know 'em too. Once they get tenure, they give some great parties in some pretty ritzy places while they hold forth on the cruel rich.

[wizardoz]

Boy, this guy writes like Jim Goad, only cleaned up a little.

[Cicero]

Only too true.

[Arpege92]

My husband has worked security during Republican fund raiser's here in our community. The politicians who attend these fund raisers have been very nice and respectful towards him. He even had his picture taken with Al Domato to which was sent to my husband through the mail and they even had it framed for him!

[swilhelm73]

It has always amazed me...

People move from MA to NH for the lower taxes and greater freedom. As soon as they get there they vote for the same kind of left wingers they voted for in MA, and are surprised to see NH slowly but surely becoming like MA.

[Think free or die]

Nice piece of writing. He really nailed it with the marble countertops, BMW's and $6 loaves of organic bread. People of this stripe that I've known have never known any real hardship and it shows.

[x]

Rich liberals are one of the great mysteries of American politics. Perhaps not having a strong "working-class" socialist movement produces a unreal atmosphere that encourages leftist gestures by the upper and upper-middle class. Unconsciously, rich liberals may think that the country is so unlikely to go socialist that such radical gestures will have no real consequences. But this phenomenon is also seen in other countries that do have more prominent class war traditions.

Maybe many rich people are married to artists, activists, or social workers who are critical of the market system that allows them to earn their wealth. Or perhaps social liberalism is a luxury good that the rich can enjoy, and the rest of the ideological package comes with it. Arguably, too, this is all a result of the liberal takeover of the universities, which makes leftist attitudes look avant-garde or daring or intellectual to those who've been processed by prestige institutions.

Regional, religious or ethnic divisions also play a role. Some people pride themselves on coming from a more "enlightened" or "evolved" part of the country or denomination. The measure themselves against what they take to be the "unenlightened," "unevolved" masses, and assume liberal prejudices as a badge of distinction.

In any event, there's an unreal, dream-like, "radical chic" atmosphere around the whole phenomenon. It's as though they think rhetoric won't have real consequences. Suburbia itself tends to be a great buffer against the consequences of politics and social policy, so such people feel insulated against possible effects of the policies they favor.

[jocon307]

You know, it is a mystery, these rich liberals. My own relatives in New Hampshire (I love my aunt so much, but the truth will out!) are a classic case. Completely confounding to contemplate. My uncle worked for his entire career for one of the largest corporations in this country, and probably the world, they are Irish-American Catholics (that might explain it for some, but I still don't understand), they have 5 children, and they are just liberal, liberal, liberal.

Of course, I have never challenged them on their beliefs, such as "how do you feel about abortion", etc.

My uncle did once cause my jaw to drop in his slavish praise of Clinton, but I can only hope my aunt saw through that idiot.

All I know is, my dad, brother to my aunt, was one of the most conservative/progressive people I've ever known. And acknowledged to be such within the family. He was devoid of racial prejudice, could hate the sin and love the sinner, and voted Republican for his entire life. Some of these other folks, they are on the plantation. I hope some new fangle Harriet Tubman can rescue their behinds.

[goodnesswins]

Rich liberals....kind of like my very nice retired neighbor couple......they have their lawn mowed by a Mexican fellow....he works framing houses for a regular job, and on weekends does lawns....they pay him CASH. No taxes come out of that, but they'd probably whine about the "poor" and their dire straits....

[300winmag]

If you stopped yakking about trendy causes like "social justice" or "inequality" and put your money where your mouth is; if you gave to charity the money you blow on marble countertops, BMWs, $6 loaves of organic bread, and Democratic presidential candidates, what a world this could be!

I'd go the writer one better. I'd reuse the old leftist canard they try to foist off on us. "You have no right to talk about taxing everyone to {insert subject} until you prove that you've contributed your own money to {subject}".

[agite rem mente]

Some rich democrat senators:
Kennedy, Kerry, Corzine, Lautenberg, Dayton, Kohl, Graham, Roberts, Cantwell - there are probably lots more. The Democratic party is the party of the rich.
When the rich refer to the rich,they are talking about anyone who has a job since they pay the taxes.

[lainde]

Great article!

[Morgan's Raider]

It has always amazed me...

People move from MA to NH for the lower taxes and greater freedom. As soon as they get there they vote for the same kind of left wingers they voted for in MA, and are surprised to see NH slowly but surely becoming like MA.

Welcome to the club. This has been happening here in the South for 30 years. For instance, after Nashville's Taxachusetts-born former mayor put the city in hock up to its eyeballs and damn near doubled property taxes in his eight-year spending spree, the idiots of this state elected him Governor last year. Never thought I'd see the day my beloved Tennessee would elect a tax-and-spend damnyankee carperbagger as governor.

[dts32041]

Well you got you revenge on Maine, when you sent the that tax spend idiot from Viginia north.

Must have really been for Joshua Chamberlin

[Morgan's Raider]

But on the bright side, we did see to it that algore wasn't foisted on the entire country...

[Frank_2001]

Excellent article!

[NYpeanut]

"Can you please not sit on that, it's an antique," she said, tugging at her sweater set."

"The core issue nobody wants to talk about, not even Dean, is we need to start the process of liquidating the assets of the fat cats in this country and get about redistributing the wealth," he sermonized.

Shawn should have asked the fat cat if he could have the antique. "Please? Please could you redistribute this horse? Cause my car needs brakes. Whatdaya mean 'no'? I said please!"