That's because we eliminated the nobility as an institution. The Founders wanted to replace inherited nobility with meritocratic nobility, but the Jacobin mindset started taking hold in America at the turn of the 19th century. The Founders inherently accepted that the premise of Noblesse Oblige applied to anyone in power and saw no reaso…
That's because we eliminated the nobility as an institution. The Founders wanted to replace inherited nobility with meritocratic nobility, but the Jacobin mindset started taking hold in America at the turn of the 19th century. The Founders inherently accepted that the premise of Noblesse Oblige applied to anyone in power and saw no reason to expound upon it in detail. Nobility in general began to be considered evil, while the uneducated lower classes were pushed as the new foundation for our morality. With the end of institutional nobility came the end of Noblesse Oblige, and as low-born but talented individuals rose through the social hierarchy, they brought with them whatever notions of social responsibility they happened to be raised with. Hopefully a Christian background would temper any narcissistic tendencies, though sometimes it did not. 200 years after the start of the industrial revolution, our social elite have very little if any regard for social responsibility. In fact, most believe their social and financial positions to give them license to do whatever they please - just don't admit this to the unwashed masses. What they haven't figured out yet is just how unstable and degenerating this path is.
That's because we eliminated the nobility as an institution. The Founders wanted to replace inherited nobility with meritocratic nobility, but the Jacobin mindset started taking hold in America at the turn of the 19th century. The Founders inherently accepted that the premise of Noblesse Oblige applied to anyone in power and saw no reason to expound upon it in detail. Nobility in general began to be considered evil, while the uneducated lower classes were pushed as the new foundation for our morality. With the end of institutional nobility came the end of Noblesse Oblige, and as low-born but talented individuals rose through the social hierarchy, they brought with them whatever notions of social responsibility they happened to be raised with. Hopefully a Christian background would temper any narcissistic tendencies, though sometimes it did not. 200 years after the start of the industrial revolution, our social elite have very little if any regard for social responsibility. In fact, most believe their social and financial positions to give them license to do whatever they please - just don't admit this to the unwashed masses. What they haven't figured out yet is just how unstable and degenerating this path is.
"...meritocratic nobility..."
Yes!
"It is not titles that honour men, but men that honour titles"