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Essentially, in the wake of Trump, the political class is accepting the inevitability of culture war, and urging it on, as something preferable to populist revo

Essentially, in the wake of Trump, the political class is accepting the inevitability of culture war, and urging it on, as something preferable to populist revolt. In a rare inversion, the headline is more correct than the article. The wealthy (really, the elites: a wealthy small business owner has nothing to do with this) want culture wars because they want the middle and bottom fighting with one another, rather than with the elites. They aren't accepting anything, this is what they want, and they have the means to achieve it.

lotsofpulp 6y ago
In my experience, the “elites” support better wage laws and worker protections. It’s the small business owners I know that rabidly vote against better protections for wage earners as it would lower their profits, and might affect their lifestyle.
- CivBase 6y ago
  Small businesses do not operate in a bubble. They have to compete with large businesses. And unlike the millionares who sit atop the ladder of large businesses, most small business owners have their livelihood tied in with their business. Small businesses suffer much more from a minimum wage increase, so of course their owners are against it. Meanwhile, large business owners benefit from a minimum wage increase thanks to the ensuing reduction in competition. I'm not arguing for or against a higher minimum wage here, but saying small businesses owners "rabidly vote against" it simply because it "might affect their lifestyle" is disingenuous. Both types of business owners have clear incentives which have nothing to do with altruism or avarice.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
- HelloNurse 6y ago
  What you call "elite" (affluent nice people who feel safe enough to be somewhat left-wing) is clearly a very different set of people than is meant in most other comments (wealthy guilty people who feel unsafe and unsustainable enough to screw everyone else).

lotsofpulp 6y ago

In my experience, the “elites” support better wage laws and worker protections. It’s the small business owners I know that rabidly vote against better protections for wage earners as it would lower their profits, and might affect their lifestyle.

CivBase 6y ago
Small businesses do not operate in a bubble. They have to compete with large businesses. And unlike the millionares who sit atop the ladder of large businesses, most small business owners have their livelihood tied in with their business. Small businesses suffer much more from a minimum wage increase, so of course their owners are against it. Meanwhile, large business owners benefit from a minimum wage increase thanks to the ensuing reduction in competition. I'm not arguing for or against a higher minimum wage here, but saying small businesses owners "rabidly vote against" it simply because it "might affect their lifestyle" is disingenuous. Both types of business owners have clear incentives which have nothing to do with altruism or avarice.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
HelloNurse 6y ago
What you call "elite" (affluent nice people who feel safe enough to be somewhat left-wing) is clearly a very different set of people than is meant in most other comments (wealthy guilty people who feel unsafe and unsustainable enough to screw everyone else).