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The members of the aristocracy of mind produce ideas, and pass along knowledge. The members of the aristocracy of money produce products and manage organizations.
The economy has produced a large class of affluent knowledge workers—teachers, lawyers, architects, academics, journalists, therapists, decorators and so on—who live and vote differently than their equally well-educated but more business-oriented peers.
Political scientists now find it useful to distinguish between professionals and managers. Professionals, mostly these knowledge workers, tend to vote for Democrats ... Managers, who tend to work for corporations, brokerage houses, real estate firms and banks, tend to vote Republican.
Knowledge-class types are more likely to value leaders who possess what may be called university skills: the ability to read and digest large amounts of information and discuss their way through to a nuanced solution ... Managers are more likely to value leaders whom they see as simple, straight-talking men and women of faith. They prize leaders who are good at managing people, not just ideas. They are more likely to distrust those who seem overly intellectual or narcissistically self-reflective.
Republican administrations tend to be tightly organized and calm, in a corporate sort of way, and place a higher value on loyalty and formality. George Bush says he doesn't read the papers. That's a direct assault on the knowledge class and something no Democrat would say.
- DAVID BROOKS, "Bitter at the Top," new york times June 15, 2004
posted June 15, 2004 in politics, print. 20022001