Dakota Beacon

“The Ruling Class” by Angelo M. Codevilla is a must read book for anyone wishing to plumb American contemporary undercurrents. This exciting and original essay describes the huge division between America’s two major classes. Every sentence reads like a blow from a nail-driving hammer. Adjectives like superlative, profound, incisive, clear, lucid, insightful barely begin to describe this 145 page essay.

Only Codevilla’s own words do justice to the text. Let him speak for himself.

THE PREMISE: “Whatever else government may be, it is inherently a factory of privilege and inequality. Thus, if you are not among the favored guests at the table where officials make detailed lists of who is to receive what at whose expense, you are on the menu.” (p. 29). “The Democratic Party represents the Ruling Class well....Republican officials are in an untenable position, with their hearts and personal hopes pushing further into the Ruling Class and their roots withering among their voters.” (p.xviii). “America’s disease is all the more deadly for being bipartisan. Republican and Democratic office-holders and their retinues share a similar presumption to dominate....” (p. 3). “The Republican Party did not disparage the Ruling Class, because most of its (Republican) officials are or would like to be part of it.” (pp.4-5).

THE RULING CLASS: These people prevail like bipartisan Brahmins. “This presumption [arrogance] is key to understanding our bipartisan Ruling Class. Its first tenet is that its members are the best and brightest, while the rest of Americans are retrograde, racist, and dysfunctional unless properly constrained.” (p.15). “In sum, our Ruling Class does not like the rest of America....For our Ruling Class, America is a work in progress,...and they are the engineers.” (p.25). “Our Ruling Class’ agenda is power for itself....This agenda proceeds from claims that our Ruling Class knows formulae for spreading economic wealth, for engineering social happiness, and for legal and constitutional fairness.” (pp.25-26). “Our Ruling Class is a machine. That is, it lives by providing tangible rewards to its members.” (p.27). “...(T)he Ruling Class’ perpetual agenda has been to diminish the role of the citizenry’s elected representatives, enhancing that of party leaders--a class apart from the voters.” (p.38). “The dismissal of the American people’s intellectual, spiritual, and moral substance is the very heart of what our Ruling Class is about. Its principal article of faith, its claim to the right to decide for others, is precisely that it knows things..., and operates by standards beyond others’ comprehension.” (p.49).

THE COUNTRY CLASS: “...(T)he Country Class is the other side of the Ruling Class’ coin: its most distinguishing characteristics are marriage, children, and religious practice. Politically, the Country Class may well be defined in terms of its lack of connection with government, and above all by attitudes opposite to those of the Ruling Class.” (p.53). “The Country Class is not anti-government, just non-governmental. It views the way people live their lives as the result of countless private choices rather than as the consequence of someone else’s master plan.” (p.53). “The Country Class thinks that individuals...--not Federal or state bureaucrats--have the right to decide what kind of light bulbs a home should have, how much water should flow from a shower nozzle, what kind of toilet you should install.” (p.56). “People...who manage their own lives to their own satisfaction, naturally resent politicians of both parties who say that the issues of modern life are too complex for anyone but themselves.” (p.58).

THE STRUGGLE: “American political struggles transcend the Democratic--but mostly the Republican--Party....Only a fourth of those who voted Republican are happy about it. Few who will vote Republican in...2012 will do so for the sake of Republican ‘views and stands, whatever they are.’...In short, the Republican Party lives by default, because, in the short term, the Country Class has no alternative....But generic Republican ‘views and stands’ have been losers....(T)he Republican Party has zero claim to the Country Class trust because it does not live to represent the Country Class.” (pp.74-75).

Enter the Tea Party (Taxed Enough Already) movement. This outgrowth is mainstream and not a revolution within the Republican Party. This grassroots organization embraces the fundamentals held by the Country Class. All they seek are fiscal responsibility, a Constitutionally limited government and free markets. How can the Ruling Class attack the Tea Party without attacking their constituents?

The Country Class Tea Party movement assumes its unique power as a leaderless organization. No one is in charge per se. There is an indescribable division of roles. Knowledge and power are distributed. It is self funding. No one can estimate its strength or number its participants. Subgroups communicate laterally and directly. What better way to describe the Country Class rising?

If one wishes to gain a succinct grasp of a major undercurrent sweeping America, Angelo M. Codevilla’s book “The Ruling Class” fits the bill.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).