I Am Elite. I Am Not Elite. Which One Is It?

[QueenOfCalifornia]

I am labeled an elitist. At least by the people at this happy corner of the internets. Why?:shrug:

I voted for Obama in the primary.
I have a college degree.
I have used Apple computers since 1987. (Industry standard for my work and it is what works best for me.)
I live in a nice suburb in an expensive city.
I have travelled to some very "elite" places.
For years I drove luxury, European sporty cars with 8 cylinders.
I like a nice dry white wine with my dinner and I like my homemade coffee that I buy in bulk at Costco to any coffee at any posh stand... Really elite of me.
I worked my whole life and waited to have my children until I was in my 40's - I am married to a professional (who also voted for Obama) and am able to stay at home to be a Mom. I value this.

I am not an elitist. Why?

I voted for Obama in the primary. If elected he will be the first black human to hold the office of POTUS. Hardly elitist.
I drive an old car with low miles. It is a smaller SUV that we bought in 1999. It is the only car we have.
Every weekday I take my husband to the trolley station so he can go downtown to his job. We do this so we can economize which allows me to stay home. We also know it's better for the environment and this is a good lesson for our children and those who know us can see we try to walk the talk.
We have both worked since we were 15 and know the value of a dollar and a hard days work. We haven't had a real vacation in 4 years and the one we had was spent driving between my husbands home town and where we live now.

No one paid for me (or my husbands) college education. We both worked our way through college.

My kids attend public school like my husband and I did. If I gave up being a stay at home Mom and reentered the work force I could pay for them to go to a private school like every single kid in this neighborhood.

Our idea of a good time? Having all the kids in the neighborhood over on the weekends to play in our front yard. As older parents we enjoy sitting in the front yard and watching them all have a good time. When it gets dark or cold we ask everyone to come in and the kids play video games while the adults enjoy a beer or a glass of wine. Sometimes we go to dinner or lunch at our favorite Mexican Restaurant with our kids. It is a funky place on the edge of a small air strip. Hardly fancy but the food is great, the people who work there are friendly and the margaritas are the best.

So does the first half of this post make me an elitist? -OR- Does the second half say I am down to Earth and a regular Jane?

Why I don't give a shit.

Because it is me. I am just me. I do the very best I can and stay informed. I try to have a nice life while doing it.

So? Which one of you wants to stick some kind of meaningless label on me?

[NightWatcher]

1. married to the president vs. raised by grandmother who was on foodstamps

which one of these is more elitist?

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. To a point that is not fair, since her status as a member of the rulinng elite

is fairly recent.

And bill also came from the bottom of society

Just saying

And I'm not a Hillbot before you even say it.

I don't LIKE either of them... nough said... will have to hold nose tightly when I vote in November

[rucky]

2. You're one of those Non-Elite-Elites that Don't-Give a Shit types.

There's not many of you around. It's a very select group. If you gave a shit, I'm sure you'd feel quite superior.

[KSinTX]

3. Here's why you're elitist

"Having all the kids in the neighborhood over ... to play in our front yard. As older parents we enjoy sitting in the front yard and watching them all have a good time."

In our non-elitist family, no one EVER played in the front yard or there was hell to pay. :sarcasm:

Keep being just you and enjoy the family!

[2rth2pwr]

Elitist thinking has nothing to do with wealth or possessions. You can be a poor grad student

and look down on the "commoners".

[Cant trust em]

13. Few of the people labeled as elitists actually look down on anyone

I find it difficult to believe that Obama, who after graduating from college and chose to become a community organizer, looks down on commoners.

[Warren DeMontague]

18. Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND? They drink LATTES!!!1111!!!!

It is IMPOSSIBLE to drink a latte without adopting a smug attitude of "I'm better'n youuuuu!"

[Arugula Latte]

53. When I drink a latte I like to spit the foam at those numbnuts who drink plain old coffee.

That'll teach the lumpenproletariat to scorn upscale java and steamed milk!

[Warren DeMontague]

17. Perhaps we should just get some kind of symbol we can sew on the clothes of these hated "elitists".

So "we" can tell who "they" are.

:shrug:

[smalll]

20. Um, there already is a symbol for that -

this one:

[Cant trust em]

30. I don't even know how to respond to this.

I guess an eyeroll will suffice.

[Warren DeMontague]

44. Or this:

:puke:

[Warren DeMontague]

47. Okay. So let's see you EXPLAIN precisely WHY Obama supporters are "elitists".

Preferably without idiotic generalizations about shoes, car choices, or what sorts of coffee drinks they supposedly like.

C'mon. Back it up.

[cyndensco]

54. An Obama pin ...works for me!

[Avalux]

4. elitist has become a bad word just like liberal.

It's just a label and I prefer to not be labeled. :hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Haha! Well done!!

Yes, indeedy. I, too, am an elitistical non-elitist.

I am happy to let others define me, but I do wish they could at least come to sort of agreement first so that I actually know for sure.

:silly:

Thanks for pointing out the nonsense.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

6. Rabrrrrrr! So true

and once again...

I thank you.

[bobbolink]

7. the point is, learning to look at ourselves and our own foibles, and own what we need to.

In other words, there are some ways in which liberals are seen as elitist by those who are struggling hard just to get through a day.

Demand that everyone pay a higher gas tax? Yes, that's elitist because it only hurts poor people.

Demand that everyone pay a tax for plastic bags? Yes, that's elitist because it penalizes poor people rather than changing the structure of the system.

WHEN we decide to honestly look at ourselves, from the viewpoint of others, THEN we will be able to gain their respect.

Just remember.... the CONS don't like to have their weaknesses pointed out, either. We can show that we are better people and have more depth is we are WILLING TO LISTEN to charges of elitism.

Because it's there.

[Cant trust em]

8. Very few people who are labeled elitists are actually elitists.

Meaning almost no one who went to college and drink nicer coffee actually think that they are better people than those who did not attend college and drink less nice coffee.

[casus belli]

9. If by "elitist" you mean "awesome".

Then yeah, you're that. :) Keep doing what you do. My wife and I have a very similar story, so I can completely identify with your post.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

11. Awwww!

Thank you.

Very nice of you to understand. :hi:
:toast:

[murielm99]

12. If you don't give a shit,

why take the time to type up a long post to tell us that?

[QueenOfCalifornia]

14. To

stimulate a conversation on the topic.

That is what we do here.

But thanks for trying to stick it to me.

(edit to fix dumb typo)

[murielm99]

26. There has been plenty of

discussion about elitism. Most of it has been initiated and responded to by thin-skinned Obama supporters. It seems self-absorbed to me.

I see many Obama supporters complaining about this, but I haven't seen a single Clinton supporter here call anyone elitist.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

33. That makes you

elite.

[CreekDog]

46. three times they have called others elitist (and that's today!)

give it a search. that you "haven't seen" does not mean it did not happen.

:think:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

49. Well...

see post #20 in this thread.

Doh!

[DevonRex]

15. You sound like me. We drive a 1999 smaller SUV. One-car family.

College degrees, post-graduate degrees. Good income. Nice neighborhood in an expensive suburb of an expensive city. Obama voters.

We don't care about cars or clothes. We sacrificed to send our kids to college, thus the one car and meager wardrobe.

I take my husband to light rail so he can get to work. I work on the computer at home so I don't have to drive. We care about the environment. We pay a lot of taxes and don't complain about it. We want everyone to have what we have. We want all kids to have a good education. We want all people to have health care. We hate war.

Both my husband and I came from struggling families. That's why we went into the military - to get college benefits. And by the time we went back to school we had 2 babies, so we worked and went to school at the same time, balancing our schedules so we could get the classes we needed and work to pay the bills. Somehow we both had straight As. It was tough but we did it.

So we're with you. Non-elitist elite, I guess.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

45. My clothes are a laugh!

I have basic black, lightweight cotton pants - about 10 pair. I have lovely matching T-shirts. I have big, flowing dress-like tops that are loose and comfy in multi print/African themes. I have one pair of leather sandals and one pair of black canvas slip on shoes. I just named my wardrobe. It all is interchangeable - I wear the black cotton pants under the loose colorful tops/dress things. I have spent maybe $300 to $400 on this and wear it all the time (all bought at Ross and Target). My husband has several suits for work and his jeans and shirts and shorts for off days. He owns 4 baseball caps.

That sums us up in the clothes department.

It's all about the technical electronics here... I will not confess.

My kids have lots of clothes... Gots to... They grow like crazy weeds!

[Warren DeMontague]

57. Basic target T-Shirts, $8-9 a pop. Converse Chuck Taylors, maybe $40 a pair.

Obviously, I wear the wardrobe of smug elitism.

[NashVegas]

16. Elite Does Not Necessarily Equal Elitist

I voted for Obama in the primary.

So have about 1/2 of the voters in the primary. Voting for Obama does not make you stand out from the crowd in any way.

I have a college degree.

So do about 28% of US citizens over the age of 25. Simply possessing a degree does not make you elite.

I have used Apple computers since 1987. (Industry standard for my work and it is what works best for me.)

Using an Apple computer does not make you an elite, even if you've been using one since 1987. Lots of people use Apple computers and although Apple is standard in industries populated by creative people, being creative does not equal being elite.

I live in a nice suburb in an expensive city.

Many people live in many nice suburbs near expensive cities.

I have travelled to some very "elite" places.

Places are not elite. There are places where elite people go, but a place, itself, is not elite.

For years I drove luxury, European sporty cars with 8 cylinders.

That's not elite, that's compensating.

I worked my whole life and waited to have my children until I was in my 40's - I am married to a professional (who also voted for Obama) and am able to stay at home to be a Mom. I value this.

That last one is something to be congratulated on, but again, not elite.

Believing any of the above somehow makes you better than others, that's elitism.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

25. Compensating?

for what?

I drove MBZ's because I love cars. I bought them both used. I have also had, in my life several classic autos that I rebuilt.

Myself.

I learned to work on cars from my Dad. He was an aircraft mechanic and he taught me how to take apart an engine and put it back together before I was 10.

I do not agree with much of what you said but that one stuck in my craw.

My point is that it is a label. Nothing more.

[beezlebum]

19. it's not being elite (smart, wealthy, etc) that is the problem.

elitism is believing that people who have wealth or intelligence or are certain races or classes or groups should be treated in a superior fashion and are entitled to more than others, that they are royalty and ought to be treated as kings and queens.

it has been obfuscated and projected onto people who are far from the definition. it is a characteristic of the fascist, who, in believing himself superior, tries to eliminate all others from ever reaching his status- thus negating his superiority (the MORE we have, the LESS he has- goes for money, power, etc), and thus he seeks to repress oppress suppress who he sees as lower beings. and fascists project their flaws onto their opponents.

i've been called elitist for valuing education, and in the same breath, this voting-against-his-own-best-interests bush supporter asked me why i hated rich people, since i was championing taxes, public housing, free healthcare, and food stamps, and why should i "unfairly" expect the wealthy to share their money (along the lines of "why do you hate america? why no flag pin? do you hate the flag?").

[Overseas]

21. Repubs want elite to mean-- YOU TALK PERTY

GWB from Kennybunkport, legacy admission to Yale, moved to Texas, threw on a cowboy hat and talked regler and folks wanted to have a beer with him. So he wasn't a damn elite. Got it? He was guvner but that's cuz people liked him. Just don't show your college and you'll do okay.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

27. EXACTLY.

This is what I am talkin' 'bout.

[rocktivity]

22. Keith Olbermann explains it all for you

Rule 3#, specifically.

:crazy:
rocknation

[QueenOfCalifornia]

41. Very funny

and very true.

:toast:

[nomorewhopper]

23. if you have a college degree, you are elite.

any issue that requires even the most modest of thought is framed in terms of "elite" vs. "regular american" and usually the emotional, no thought, spend now/pay later school of thought wins.

(like "should we invade a country who poses no credible threat to ours even though we have a lust for blood?" and "is it a good idea to suspend a tax on gasoline that will further increase our dependence on oil while enriching our enemies?") is

[Cant trust em]

29. Elite and elitist aren't the same thing. They're getting confused.

Just because I went to college, ergo elite, doesn't mean that I look down on people who didn't go to college.

[nomorewhopper]

56. if you went to college, you wear gucci and drink lattes and participate in homosexual orgies

the important thing here, is that the people believe it

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Well I only hang out with elitists

So if you wanna hang with me, be elitist and be PROUD! :hug:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

31. Hello!

Any time P2b!
:toast:

[lumberjack_jeff]

28. I need to decompress

I had a long snarky reply typed.

I'll start over, no snark.

"Elitism" is only about you to the extent that it's about your perceptions of me. Drink arugula cappuccino? Who cares?

Look out the window. See the driver of that plumbing van on the street? If you know he's a low information voter, then you're an elitist.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

32. What the hell is

an arugula cappuccino?

sounds disgusting. :bounce:

[lumberjack_jeff]

35. We cool types drink 'em all the time.

you wouldn't understand.

;)

[QueenOfCalifornia]

37. Mmmmm

sounds sort of elite.

:hide:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

34. In 1970 Spiro Agnew would have called you an "effete intellectual".

The same kind of people are using the same kind of buzzwords ("elite") this election.

[ForeverWonderful]

36. Thanks

for the memory.

I think.

:hide:

[panAmerican]

38. You go, girl! I'm having kids late too because I wanted to be a responsible adult

For years you sacrifice in order to have some financial stability, and as soon as you have it, some pandering politician wants to make it look as if you've had all these goodies all your life, and as if you don't have to keep working to maintain them. Please.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

40. Thanks....

Financial stability is enormous.

We try really hard.

I am not shocked by some comments here though.

Welcome to the DU.

[panAmerican]

39. People, you should K&R the heck out of this OP. It's one of the best I ever read here.

[NC_Nurse]

42. K&R. Great post. I am in the same boat. I am a mutt.

Labels are for stupid people who can't make up their minds without
being told simplistic "us vs. them" slogans. What a crock.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

43. Hi

Thanks for taking the post in the spirit it was meant.

Also - just to clear things up.

I do not post a lot in this section - The GD-P - In fact I go in spurts and stay out of here for weeks at a time. I was accused of being self indulgent because this topic has been kicked around a lot. I wasn't in the GD-P when that went on -

I wanted to just state my case for being a reasonable person living a fairly normal life who wants a Democrat in the oval office.

I feel as though I have been labeled by the Hillary supporters. Because I choose Obama I have been framed as "an elitist" - I cry bullshit on that.

:rant:

[NC_Nurse]

50. A lot of what is said about each candidates' supporters is bullshit.

Have you seen the video on the Onion's site about how voters really LOVE bullshit? It's hilarious, and sadly true. :hi:

[madwivoter]

48. You are elite.

You are not elite. Wait, what the hell does elite mean again? Sounds like you are pretty down to earth to me.

:hi:

[barack the house]

51. You sound a wonderful family with great values,something to be admired.

[Lilith Velkor]

52. Once you stop conflating elite and elitist

you can join the elite that knows the meanings of words. :)

Kidding aside, I see no evidence that you are either one.

[dchill]

55. Elitist - it's the new commie pinko.

[Warren DeMontague]

58. Holy FUCK! I *must* be elite-- lookit what I just found in my bathroom!!!!!

Not only am I elite, I must be German, too.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

59. I don't know

if you are elite... But your teeth are nice and clean.