Social Commentator, Thomas Frank, Has Published an

¶ … social commentator, Thomas Frank, has published an insightful article in the February, 2011 issue of Harper's magazine assailing the members of what he describes as the privileges class in America failure to exhibit empathy and understanding for the plight of the working and middle class. In the article, entitled "Servile Disobedience," Frank states, "The rich are different from you and me (T. Frank). They are ruder and less generous.

They don't get what others are thinking and apparently they don't really care." In offering these comments, Frank echoes the thoughts offered many years before by the writer and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson saw the United States as being infected with "selfishness, fraud and conspiracy (Emerson)." Frank in his article laments that, "We need the rich to be nicer.

We need the rich to discover brotherly love, and fast." He recognizes that among the rich there are a number who embrace philanthropy such as Andrew Carnegie and modern day individuals like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates but these men are the exemption and not the rule.

In his day, Andrew Carnegie endorsed the estate tax that would have limited the amount that the rich could pass on to their heirs and, in modern times, Warren Buffet has been quoted many times supporting an increase in the taxes of the very wealthy (Frank). Both men promote an approach that must be endorsed if the concept of a properly functioning democratic society is to succeed. Frank is quite harsh in his treatment of the elite class.

He finds their behavior as being inexcusable and he views the present system of bailouts and tax relief for the elite class as being ineffective and patently unfair to the remainder of society. In addressing such concerns Frank states, "We let them build a system of bonuses and executive compensation on the theory that it would be good for everyone if the people on top got to take home much, much more. And when it turned out that the theory was wrong & #8230;we promptly bailed them out.

We allowed them to step up to the Fed's discount window and fill their pockets. We generously transferred their dumb investments to our balance sheet and we sent them off with little more than a request that they please do not do it again." If Emerson were alive today he would certainly be distressed by what is occurring. Emerson viewed democracy as an attempt by the public to keep the elite class responsible.

He thought it important that the public exercise its power in order to keep the power of the economic elite in check. Emerson would have viewed the corporate bailouts and huge tax breaks as socially and politically inappropriate and counter-productive to the interests of society at large.

Commenting on this situation Emerson stated that the American society was infected with "selfishness, fraud and conspiracy" and that it was regulated by a capitalist "system of selfishness…of distrust, of concealment, of superior keenness, not of giving but of taking advantage." The condition that Emerson warned about over two hundred years ago has come to fruition in America. A position strongly supported by Frank. The elite class in America has become detached from the other classes.

In two separate studies, one in Psychological Science (Kraus) and the other in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (McCullough) the results found that higher status individuals tended to engage less frequently with others by looking at others when they are talking, laugh less, and use fewer gestures that would indicate a connection with others. Also, the studies found that lower class individuals turned out to display more prosocial virtues such as generosity, charity, and helpfulness.

It is based on these studies that Frank argued that "the rich are different from you and me." Emerson warned against this occurring. He warned about the masses catering to the rich and glorifying them. He viewed such behavior as being undemocratic. Emerson did not speak in terms of prosocial virtues but he did speak about the importance and application of altruism. An altruism that is badly needed in today's society.

Altruism, or the concern for others, is a virtually universal value in all societies and it is an essential element in most of the world's great religious, social reform, and revolutionist movements. One of Emerson's most quoted phrases reflects his attitude toward the value of altruism. Emerson stated that, "It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." In making this statement Emerson was pointing out the importance of being helpful and generous.

He was advising others that helpfulness means trying to make life easier for other people. A truly generous person is one who pays attention to the needs of others and notices when others are struggling. From Thomas Franks' viewpoint, those among the elite of today's American society are failing to not only make any effort to be helpful but also failing to even notice the plight of so many.

The elite in America, according to Franks, have abandoned any attempt at putting aside their own interests for the sake of others. Frank sees the present situation in America as a true class struggle between the elite class and the rest of American society. The attitude developed by the elite class is that their being rich didn't make anyone else poor. An attitude that is pervasive and causing a possible breakdown of the entire society. Frank in his article suggests that America's elite must develop a new spirit of altruism.

He suggests that the elite need to look inward and attempt to assist those less fortunate, those struggling to survive on a day-to-day to basis. Alternatively, Frank suggests that the non-elite class of Americans organize a "day without deference" where they cease servicing the elite; where they stop waiting on their tables; where they stop chauffeuring their cars; and they stop cleaning their houses.

Frank suggests that such a move may force the elite to recognize the level of their dependence and, perhaps develop some measure of empathy among the elite for those less fortunate. Even if this approach does not affect the elite, it would serve, at a minimum, some form of catharsis for the non-elite. The "occupy" movements throughout America are an indication of what Frank has proposed. Frank's suggestion of this mild form of civil disobedience is consistent with the views of Emerson.

Emerson believed that members of a democratic society needed to participate actively in the political and social affairs of the society. In doing so, he encouraged citizens to attempt to do what is necessary to effectuate the results that they wanted. Similarly, Frank has suggested that such approach be attempted so that the elite may.