To not know who "the elite" are?

[Fuzzyend]

Labour have announced a crusade against "the elite" but I'm not sure who they are.

When I think of elite people I think of sports stars, but I'm guessing Labour haven't got anything against Dina Asher-Smith or the England rugby team. So who the heck are "the elite" and why are they a bad thing?

The people behind huge corporations, property empires, old establishment institutions.

People with too much power and money.

There was a documentary out recently - 'How to break into the elite' it might still be on iplayer/4od.

I think the 'elite' are a smaller/richer group than the middle classes, and corperations/institutions not just the individuals.

You must be very naive op!

You really don't understand why it's a bad thing that power is concentrated in the hands of a few people?

People and corporations who avoid tax.

People with money and power but no accountability.

So, how much power or property is bad?

Are all CEOs of FTSE 100 companies bad? Or do you actually need to own the company to be bad? And how big does your company need to be before you become elite (and therefore bad).

How many houses do you need to own to be elite/bad? 3? 6?

If I'm an elite politician, am I bad?

Why are you asking?
Is it because you're considering voting Labour but don't understand their reference points?
Or is it because you want to snipe and tear apart Labour's position because you think it may help the party you do support?

@katycarrcan I genuinely dont understand when being elite is "a good thing" and when it's "a bad thing".

I know Trump went on about taming down the Washington elite in 2016. But who did he actually mean? The politicians? The lobbyists? The money behind the scenes?

If there is going to be a group of people who are the baddies, it would be helpful to be able to clearly define who that group is. Wouldn't it?

And like many people, I haven't got a clue who to vote for. So I would appreciate some clarity.

To me, in the uk, the elite are the established titled families with mega trusts which keep them in the richest 500 list year for literally hundreds of years and their rekatives with big shares in big companies living mainly of passive unearned incomes.

To be fair i have no idea who labour considers the elite.

Well, labour's elite may be different to my elite but I consider the following to be part of that group:

• Heads of Institutions
• Heads of political parties
• Heads of corporations
• The Intelligentsia
• The aristocracy
• The upper class
• Those with Trusts and off-shore/shell companies
• Heads of Big Business
• The seriously rich (billionaires/multi-millionaires)

Actually, now I think of it, it's quite an extensive list but essentially, anyone with money, power and privilege.

Why should anyone be able to hold a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege, political power in society?

This article might interest you, OP:

www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/may/03/how-do-britains-highest-earners-feel-about-their-income

Personally, I have little sympathy with people who earn over £162k and whine that they're badly off.

Wealth inequality is at the root of many problems in society. It's something that has always existed, but it is more obvious now in the age of social media. People on low incomes have the lives of the wealthy rubbed in their faces via social media and endless reality TV, which creates not unwarranted discontentment. I believe this is responsible for the rise in violent crime.

"The inteligentsia" - wtf is wrong with being intelligent?

If that's what being elite is, then please could we have some more elites in parliament?

Why should anyone be able to hold a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege, political power in society?

How would run a coutry without a prime minister and the government, aka the political elite, or large businesses without boards of directors? And what, just take money away from whoever you deem has earned too much?

People like this I think.

www.theguardian.com/business/2019/apr/01/city-watchdog-government-inquiry-london-capital-finance-collapse

Anyone Corbyn thinks has too much money because they have either earned it/saved it/received it as an inheritance. Nasty little man.

"Quite why it's anyone's business if I choose to send my children to private school just baffles me.

Come on. It doesn't really baffle you, does it? You must see that it's a societal issue and not just a private choice for you.

"The inteligentsia" - wtf is wrong with being intelligent?"

I don't think it just means being intelligent does it?

OP, I’m not sure how you could not understand what is broadly meant by the Elite here, unless English isn’t your native language or you’re too young to vote

The problem with any politicians rallying against the elite is that it's what they are. Trump and Farage being anti establishment is a great example of multi millionaire men of the people who claim to be against the elite

Labour saying this doesn't strike me as much more honest I'm afraid