Regimes are most visibly on the edge of collapse when the gap between the elite and the masses becomes a glaring, yawning chasm. When the peasants are trudging from one government restriction to another while the economy collapses around their ears, it’s a dangerous time for the elites to be seen to be living the highest of lives with carefree abandon.
Even worse are the condescending elites who pretend to be “champions of the people” while walking all over them in the most gaily clueless fashion imaginable. Rousseau’s anecdote of the “great princess” who wittered, “Let them eat cake”, has become legendary as the epitome of the dangerous detachment from reality of the Versailles elite on the eve of the French Revolution.
Now, we have a decidedly second-rate princess burbling “tax the rich” – in a dress made by the same designer who charges $1,200 for a pair of off-the-rack shoes, and $45 for something as basic as a tennis ball.
The occasion was “fashion’s biggest night out”, New York’s annual Met Gala.
Where else but at an event that would make the courtiers of the Sun King blanch with envy would you expect to find a “Democratic Socialist”, who lives a luxury, taxpayer-funded elite lifestyle, proclaiming her affinity with the hardscrabble masses?
For some, the gala is an opportunity to make a political statement, which is exactly what representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did at her first Met Gala appearance. The Democratic-Socialist congresswoman wore a white gown by Brother Vellies with the words “Tax The Rich” printed in red across the back.
Driving the message home, the political slogan was also printed across her handbag.
Driving the real message home is the sight of a clueless elite rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, none of them even bothering to signal the virtue of wearing a Covid mask – unlike the heavily-muzzled servants hovering in the background.
A serf’s collar was a less obvious sign of a feudally segregated society.
The glittery Met Gala […] This year it has a distinctively youthful imprint, hosted by singer Billie Eilish, actor Timothee Chalamet, poet Amanda Gorman and tennis star Naomi Osaka, none of them older than 25.
The Australian
If nothing else, it’s nice, I suppose, to see that Osaka has apparently overcome the crippling social anxiety that has led her to avoid post-match press conferences. The poor dear “struggles”, donchaknow: “introverted, shy and gets huge waves of anxiety before she speaks to the world’s media”, we are told.
Speaking before the world’s richest, most pampered twits is no problem, though, it seems.
The spectacular silliness of the whole affair speaks volumes about America’s “progressive” elite. All in all, it resembles nothing so much as the elite of the Capitol in The Hunger Games.
But, it’s all about “diversity, inclusivity, sustainability, gender fluidity, and body positivity” – just so long as you’re famous, young and sleek – and very, very, VERY rich.
Please share this article so that others can discover The BFD