The Super Repo Man, and In Defense of Elite

Thank you Mr. Winer for your very generous welcome. I'm really excited to write and discuss the world with all of you. I guess I'll jump right into it.

Following the "derivative roulette" revelations at AIG, the media was flush with analyzations of the so called "populist" anger that poured forth from America's affected masses. Whether or not it was populist or  just normal people being angry that many of the country's richest companies were being rewarded for cheating, many news stories followed this growing coined trend of Main Street vs Wall Street (Perhaps another example of Manipulation of Context in an invented reality vis Lady Gaga?). 

Following this trend there is a fascinating story in Salon.com about Nick Popovich, the man who the banks call when delinquent millionaires don't pay their bills. Mr. Popovich steals their planes. Check it out here:

 http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/06/06/lear_jet_repo_man/index.html

Maybe it's good to call it a trend story in the Main Street vs. Wallstreet style, because it feels vindicating in a way, from Main street anyway

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Also: 

 In the comments on Max Nova's exciting comment on B. Graham's post on Lady Gaga, there developed a sub thread that asked, "How had  elite become such a negative word?"  I could not help but write a post in defense of elite. Please feel free to keep your tongue firmly in your cheek. So now here is 

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me a piece of advice that I have been turning over in my head ever since. 

"If ever you feel like criticizing someone," he told me, "just remember that all the people in the world have not had the same advantages that you've had."

This is true. I am not one of those people who grew up on golf courses open to the public or had the taxing labor or driving himself to this place or to that place. In this way, one might conclude that I've had some, albeit slight, economic and lifestyle advantages. 

But in everything else I have enjoyed a primarily hum-drum existence -- an existence typical of most Americans I should think. I attended a four year university of the Ivy League variety, which I have been told is a very popular thing to do among Americans my age. I have terribly charming friends who, in turn, have introduced to charming women; and I believe that most American women would describe themselves as charming. As is customary, I hold myself to the highest politesse in every social engagement. On the other hand, in the grip of masculine sport and competition I cannot deny that I am prone to behaving as boys will behave -- but who can blame me, right? On weekends I usually like to attend rather raucous parties at the shore houses of my friends and acquaintances. 

My instincts tell me that 80 to 90 percent of Americans live as I do. I would say that the other ten percent are either criminals or mentally deranged people, which is pretty low for a developed country. Besides, I believe they all live in New Jersey anyway. Furthermore, every successful adult I have ever known has instructed me to follow my instincts, as they are inherently well-guided by the surroundings I came up in. And while I have not been to much of the United States or areas outside of Paris or Nice, I am confident in my assessment of the world around me, for I have excellent powers of erudition. In parlor games, I am unmatched. 

So back to my so called "advantages" as my father described them. I'm afraid my father has such a polite and humble nature that he overstates our social position as a tool of political humility. If truly there are saints on earth then he is among them! So if he is overstating the situation for the sake of humility, isn't it doing a disservice to say that I should not criticize others on equal terms based on an inaccurate, albeit sweet, gesture of a polite and generous man? I should say so. 

So in the spirit of egalitarianism, I declare it is duty -- as the elite -- to criticize and critique. Otherwise, how will the other ten percent -- the criminals and deranged I mean -- be enlightened to the correct way of doing things? My sense of the word "elite" is that it means the majority. And based on the principles of Democracy, being in the majority means that you are right.  I mean look at our lives! How could we not be the majority? Who would not want to live like us? And if people don't live like us, well, that's why we need to critique the -- just to push them towards the enlightened path. 

So whether in music, movies, art, or life in general, follow your instincts and critique, criticize, and repeat! After all, you're elite which means you're right.

**Yes, the first two lines are the opening lines to "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.