3 ms·
The socialist tradition has a suitable term: "class traitor". The ruling class is ruling, in substantial parts because they are better at cooperating than othe
by mafribe 10y ago
The socialist tradition has a suitable term: "class traitor".
The ruling class is ruling, in substantial parts because they are better at cooperating than other classes (and are good at seeding discord in other classes). One aspect of ruling class cooperation is ruthlessly punishing their own class traitors.
I suspect that is part of what the whole saga is about.
- jshevek 10y agoIn a sea of partisan squabble, you've said something truly worthy of thought. This has analogs in everything from organized crime to the interactions of genes.
- abecedarius 10y agoThat's interesting. What are some other examples of ruling-class traitors getting punished? P.S. I hate having to add a disclaimer like this, but: I'm genuinely interested.
- Perceval 10y agoI don't have an example of one getting punished, but I do recall this book, Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt: https://www.amazon.com/Traitor-His-Class-Privileged-Presidency/dp/0307277941 https://www.amazon.com/Traitor-His-Class-Privileged-Presiden...
- jessaustin 10y agoInsider trading prosecutions are usually examples of either this phenomenon or the related effort to keep upstarts out of the executive class. Only certain people may steal from investors in public firms.