I have a theory that America is diverging into two separate status hierarchies, one based on wealth and one based on cultural knowledge. In the past, the people who controlled economic capital also controlled cultural capital. Now that is less and less the case.

What do you think? Is it still possible to be Cool and Rich at the same time?

༺writer on the internet༻
i write about culture, technology, power, and consciousness
https://terrraincognita.substack.com

I think it’s in large part due to a decades-long demographic shift that started after WWII. People not from “elite” backgrounds could now get rich, while people who were not born wealthy could get access to cultural knowledge via expanded access to the education system, and now, the internet. Less entrenched hierarchies are a good thing! But what happened was that the nouveau riche did not support cultural institutions like their predecessors, which led to a decline in power of the cultural ecosystem, which we’re feeling now. This was a huge strategic mistake because culture and influence legitimizes power! The nouveau riche are now in a precarious position because the highly-educated-but-not-rich “cultural elites” do not view their power as legitimate. Hence, instability and systemic collapse. It’s just as well….the old systems weren’t optimal anyway and we now have the tools to build better ones!

Well said. I feel this too. What do you think is causing it? Disdain for tech, healthcare, and government is probably a factor. I guess just the average person feeling that capitalism is working against them is causing this

Cool and rich, sure

Authentic, credible and rich, few

Yes, but then no one will know you’re rich — which is the painful part for people. 

It’s not really about money, it’s about power and influence.