Elitism

Why is there such a stigma in the United States, and possibly in other countries, against people who are "elite"?

I don't know about you, but wouldn't we WANT people who are elite in power? Especially in politics, wouldn't you want someone who had a college education in economics, politics, and government?

From Yahoo! Answers, the epitome of human stupidity:

What can be done to the get the overeducated, elisit element out of the GOP once and for all?

And return it to real Americans? People who value life experience over universities, people who aren't ashamed to like NASCAR and bowling, people who don't act like it's a life or death matter if you don't go to college, don't go to museums, don't go to operas and don't travel to Europe. What's happened is that there is still the rich, elitist element in the GOP with degrees from fancy universities, travel abroad, an obsession with what they think is high culture, use of big vocabulary words......how can this part of the party be driven out and replaced completely with the real Americans we saw at Glenn Beck's rally or who call into Rush Limbaugh's show or who support our troops or are just the kind of people you can drink a beer with and watch NASCAR and not have to talk about opera, books, museums, what the French are doing this year, where you went to college and what you studied......will this new era begin at last for the GOP.....a party of people educated in the school of life experience instead of college, real people with real interests who don't have to rely on books for information or to feel better about themselves...

I am just appalled by this person's stupidity. Like it's a detriment to you if you are educated. WTF?

It probably has something to do with the fear of having leaders with a "snob" element, or ones who have lost touch with the average American.  Or maybe it's just jealousy.  Seriously, though, what most people consider to be snob behavior has less to do with education and more to do with family prestige.  I know several people attending Ivy League or other very prestigious universities, and none of them ever act the least bit smug or superior because of what college they go to.  The people who act the most snobbish usually come from the families of the upper-upper class, or the "blue-bloods".  Some (not all, but some) of them can be real stuck-up pricks.  But simply attending a good college doesn't automatically turn you into an asshole.

Also, I find it interesting that the dumbass you quoted is talking about the GOP.  In almost all cases, the Republicans are the ones who market their candidate as being "just plain folk", and label the Democratic candidate as being "elite".  And the Tea Party in particular isn't exactly recruiting members from the ranks of America's most intelligent.  Odd.  But in any case, I would rather have a snob for a president than a layman.

NASZKAR MUTHURFCKIR
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FTFY

Debian elitism?

People fear and ridicule what they don't understand.

I think it comes more down to having an open mind as opposed to being extremely bigoted and simple minded.

I was going to make a comment but everyone has said pretty much what I wanted to say.

It probably has something to do with the fear of having leaders with a "snob" element, or ones who have lost touch with the average American.  Or maybe it's just jealousy.  Seriously, though, what most people consider to be snob behavior has less to do with education and more to do with family prestige.  I know several people attending Ivy League or other very prestigious universities, and none of them ever act the least bit smug or superior because of what college they go to.  The people who act the most snobbish usually come from the families of the upper-upper class, or the "blue-bloods".  Some (not all, but some) of them can be real stuck-up pricks.  But simply attending a good college doesn't automatically turn you into an asshole.

Also, I find it interesting that the dumbass you quoted is talking about the GOP.  In almost all cases, the Republicans are the ones who market their candidate as being "just plain folk", and label the Democratic candidate as being "elite".  And the Tea Party in particular isn't exactly recruiting members from the ranks of America's most intelligent.  Odd.  But in any case, I would rather have a snob for a president than a layman.

He was talking about removing the snob element from the GOP because he was taught that the GOP is the party for the every man. (probably why they want those tax cuts for the highest tax bracket to stay instated) He is simply saying that they need to get rid of ALL elitism in the GOP.

Back when McCain and Obama were competing against each other, I was appalled to hear my aunt admit that she was distrustful of putting smarter people in power "because they can trick you".
It was very revealing ...and very disheartening. I have no problem with a smarter population, but I can understand when people have concerns about financial elitism (business men in power). Of course, education and economic status have a statistical correlation.

I love my aunt, but I guess my point is that less intelligent people seem to feel more comfortable with less intelligent people in power.