Supply: @avrilbradley23 on X
RFK Jr. has made statements that sound quasi-aristocratic, corresponding to taking delight in being a Kennedy, which some individuals discover obnoxious. For example, Leftist, Chris Hedges, particularly hates this, apart from RFK Jr.’s pro-Israel stance. RFK Jr. has informed a narrative the place his father identified poor individuals within the Mississippi Delta “and stated, “These are Kennedy individuals.” Whereas RFK Jr.’s level is that Kennedys look out for the little man and never the oligarchy, Chris Hedges interpreted that as treating these poor individuals like royal topics. Whereas some discover this patronizing, I recognize how RFK Jr. is trustworthy and upfront about his privilege reasonably than pretending to be a person of the individuals. Principally, he’s an elitist who sees his position as searching for the downtrodden, although not essentially in a condescending approach.
Since People are inclined to hate hereditary privilege, there may be this unhealthy fetish for the self-made striver. Since RFK Jr. didn’t must try, he was capable of keep away from the worst traits of the managerial and company strivers and profession politicians. Thus he was capable of deal with issues like nature and mental pursuits. Being privileged grants one freedom to be a non-conformist and free thinker. The striver or self-made man has to evolve to the values of elite establishments. Nevertheless, clearly, loads of outdated cash sorts are rotten too.
Each JFK and RFK epitomized noblesse oblige, although they had been comparatively new cash and positively had their flaws. The Kennedys are the closest that America has to a hereditary aristocracy, with different political dynasties, just like the Bushes and Clintons, not coming shut. There’s this cult of Kennedy worship amongst boomers, and I don’t assume that JFK deserves to be deified or placed on a pedestal. Whereas the Kennedys represented a faction of the ruling class that was midway respectable, additionally it is that the bar is so low amongst America’s ruling class.
This type of applies to Tucker Carlson, although he tries too laborious to be folksy, along with his man of the individuals schtick. Each Tucker and RFK Jr. signify higher forces in politics, that’s this elite noblesse oblige-based populism. There are even some comparisons to Donald Trump, so far as being a renegade from the elite. Kennedy, Trump, and Vivek Ramaswamy are related in that they’re mavericks who originated from the nouveau riche, outdoors the normal WASP elite. Trump’s immigrant household arrived at roughly the identical time and have become rich at an identical time because the Kennedys.
Nevertheless, Trump epitomizes way more of a mercantile or Vaishya archetype, although a Eighties model, whereas Vivek comes throughout as a brand new cash Silicon Valley managerial striver. Although Vivek is actually a Brahmin, RFK Jr. is essentially the most Brahmin political determine in American politics. Trump tends to respect individuals essentially the most who’re winners within the capitalist system. Simply watch reruns of The Apprentice. Nevertheless, Trump is aristocratic in how he treats his base as his topics reasonably than appearing as a public servant. It’s simply that Kennedy appears to genuinely care about individuals whereas Trump is simply too caught up in his personal ego and makes use of individuals like pawns. Whereas Trump has a Promethean aspect, he can be a Philistine, corresponding to consuming quick meals. RFK Jr. is the proper candidate for many who are economically populist however culturally refined whereas MAGA is extra rightwing economically however culturally populist. For example, RFK Jr. stands out in supporting the Arts.
Supply: @RobertKennedyJr on X
Virtually all profitable political actions want some elite assist or dissident elite management. The thought of a pure bottom-up populist motion is a cope, and really uncommon traditionally. You want individuals with elite connections to problem the elite, and it’s naïve to assume {that a} complete outsider could make a huge effect. I’d describe RFK Jr.’s motion as a hybrid of counter-elitism in cooperation with grassroots populism. Even then, it’s an uphill battle with RFK’s probabilities of changing into president extraordinarily slim.
I can see how one may make the case that RFK Jr. isn’t radically in opposition to the US institution, as he’s American royalty and has endorsed Obama and Hillary Clinton. If he had been to have run again in 2004, as a Democrat with related views, he would have been tolerated as this eccentric maverick. It’s simply that America’s political elite have turn out to be extraordinarily authoritarian and illiberal of any dissent.
The Social Democratic paradigm, which I contemplate JFK and RFK of, was not populism however reasonably a noblesse oblige association between elites and the individuals to stop the rise of Fascism and Communism. Social Democracy ended with the top of the Chilly Struggle and was changed by the neoliberal paradigm, which treats the American individuals as serfs. RFK Jr. continues to be a robust believer in democracy and the American system, so it’s not like I’m making some Neo-reactionary case for him. RFK Jr. is for an inclusive left-right populist motion based mostly on compassion as a result of he warns that darker, extra fascistic forces, will benefit from the elite screwing over the individuals.
