everything is new and improved

Somewhere between kindergarten and high school I learned to read. This skill was cultivated by something that is rarely used anymore…books. These “books” as they are called, vary in accuracy but collectively have a bountiful reward in vicarious living and experience in any given subject. Now, I am in no way an historian nor am I even a history buff but one of those countless subjects coincidently has to do with history. Specifically 18th century history…
While America was figuring out its new independence from England, France was starting a their own revolutionary war… There was a great many factors contributing to the French Revolution however one in particular was one that the not-yet united-states shared which was the aristocracies. The aristocracy was a privileged social class that governed the surrounding lands. This elite class was rarely achieved through entrepreneurial endeavors but instead only acquired mostly through heredity.
Even today much of Europe ceremoniously keeps these unearned titles of nobility.

Now, in this great country (united geographically but divided morally) The United States we have qualified the old cliché of a dog returning to its vomit as we embrace and elevate a new aristocracy, better known as celebrities. This socially elite group finds all the graces of a tradition long since past in their ability to defy the laws without consequence, spend money as if there was no end, and create drama in their own lives that would make any ‘Victorian Era’ gossip circle blush.

Beyond just being socially inept, our new and improved celebrity aristocracies also share in common with their 18th century counterpart a complete lack of understanding of social and political issues. However, they insist on making their tirades about current topics from inside their close-minded bubble and relatively small circle of acquaintances; all the while accusing America of censorship or expounding on the growing concern over how we are losing our freedom of speech. Ironically, any celebrity who verbalizes anything contrary to these foundationless arguments is quickly ostracized from the celebrity rein deer games or even work. It is absolutely fascinating that a person like Sharon Stone can be asked to speak at the United Nations on geopolitical issues when all she is really famous for is flashing her hoo-ha in the movie Basic Instinct. Its nice to know that if enough people see your “special purpose” you are qualified to speak to the nations on world peace.

You can be sure that if you are ever undecided in any election, all you need to do is vote opposite of whatever “Hollywood” is pushing and you most likely will be picking the right one… I doubt that anyone is going to utter any phrases like “let them eat cake” as the late great Marie Antoinette supposedly did. But if history is a reflection of things to come we might see a growing resentment of today’s aristocracy with a collapse of the entertainment industry… maybe then people might dust off those books again…