Cultural Elitism?

Here we go again. In light of the discussion by Meyerson, Teixeira and other about Democratic weakness among the white working class, Bull Moose deploys the now conventional argument that working class voters are more interested in "values" issues than economic ones. Democrats will not succeed until they find a way to bridge the gap on culture.

Fair enough, but what bothers me is his description of the liberal position as "cultural elitism." What exactly is elite about not wanting to oppress others? Economic elitism asserts that the wealthy should govern the economy and reap most of the rewards, political elitism that the top knows better how to run the country. Both of these types of elitism identifiably benefit the upper class. But what about cultural liberalism? I don't see how tolerance and diversity benefit the top at all.

In reality, the only "values" which benefit the elite are cultural traditionalism, since it splinters the working classes and allows the elite to continue their political and economic dominance. Don't ask me, ask Max Weber.

So never call cultural liberalism "elitism." The real cultural elitism is being practiced on the right, not the left.