Who will be the next elite?

摘要

Elites are strange creatures. Every society has one—at least one—that members and nonmembers alike are intensely aware of. But only rarely is an elite a formal entity, with stated membership criteria and a list of who belongs. Studying elites is thus an inexact science. Still, the direction in which the American elite is changing right now seems quite clear. We are somewhere in the course of the greatest capitalist boom in our history. One result is that capitalists will make up our country's next elite. The credential you will have to present to enter that virtual room in which candidates for office are chosen, educational institutions run, foreign alliances forged and social arrangements set will not be family background or educational achievement. It will be having started a successful business and made a lot of money at it.