Like reflections in the glass!
(crossposting from the US politics thread. Though I intended to share this here first I coudne't find it. [thx for the link M84])
Vox: the problems with America's upper-middle class and meritocracy
. the thesis here is that the privileged few that make the gap between the top 0.1% and the bottom 90% (also known as those that achieved the American Dream) are behaving in a way that are both cause and symptom of the growing wealth inequality. Namely by doing everything they can to lock themselves in and to lock everyone else out, usually by trying to ensure their children can continue their legacy or at least their wealth.
The article also compares them to aristocracy and mentions that our idea of meritocracy is not only corrupted, but likely came about as a post-hoc justification to explain why wealthy individuals got as for as they did.
A bit on American humor I thought worth sharing.
Old Joke:
The man shouts thanks and praise and asks them what country is this. The people on the pier shout back, "New Jersey!"
The sailor lets go of the rope.
"Nevermind, I'll float a little further."
He was never seen again.
Note, when I say old joke I mean over a century old. I mean Abraham Lincoln-era old. I mean Abraham Lincoln himself was telling this joke.
New Jersey is Hell jokes predate the Civil War.
"What a century this week has been." - Seung Min Kim