Brooks on the nonexistent class war

[Bill Lear <rael@xxxxxxxxxx>]

The op-ed page of yesterday's NY Times (1/27/2003) carries the
thoughts of David Brooks ("The Happy Populist") who unknowingly
reminds us of the deep and unexamined current of fascism running
through our intellectual culture.  Aside from that, what may be of
interest to economists here is the remarkable claim he puts forward
about the absence of class conflict in this country:

     ... according to Edwards  and the other Democratic candidates, we
     are  actually a  nation divided  between the  top 2  percent, the
     rich, powerful  insiders "those who  never have to worry  about a
     thing," as Edwards puts it and the 98 percent, us ordinary folks.

     This   particular  version   of   the  Two   Americas  theme   is
     sociologically,  politically,  economically  and  demographically
     false, but it is rhetorically  quite effective. It means that all
     these problems that seem  intractable are actually solvable if we
     just take  power away from  that selfish sliver.  Government will
     begin to work for the people again; all students will have access
     to first-rate  education; regular folks  will have a  health care
     system that works for them. It's all imminent!

I can't think of anything more deserving of strong rebuke by
independent economists --- not to mention a full train of outraged
sociologists, political scientists, and demographers.

The fascist stain comes later in the article when he invokes Aristotle
in order to lecture Edwards to turn aside from his populist rhetoric
(unsupported, naturally, and therefore irrational) and to turn to
manufactured "trust":

     ...  Aristotle believed  that  the greatest  speakers don't  just
     persuade audiences to  accept an argument --- they  get people to
     trust  their judgment. They  use emotion  and logic  to establish
     their  character,  which  leaves  a deeper  impression  than  the
     momentary thrill of a standing ovation.

I can't think of anything more deserving of strong rebuke by those who
remember the odious use of "emotion and logic" by demagogues
throughout history "to establish their character".

Of course, Aristotle himself was not above mentioning that unutterable
truth of class conflict:

     ... for  where people have  equal shares, they are  more content,
     but  those who  have the  advantage of  riches, if  they  enjoy a
     preponderance in  the constitution, seek to  ill-treat others and
     enhance their own future.

     ---Aristotle, *Politics*, 1307a5, Penguin ed., p. 320

Poor Mister Brooks.  Even his heroes who use emotion and logic are
against him.


Bill