All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and well born, the other the mass of the people. The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true in fact. The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct, permanent share in the government. They will check the unsteadiness of the second, and as they cannot receive any advantage by a change, they therefore will ever maintain good government. Can a democratic assembly, who annually revolve in the mass of the people, be supposed steadily to pursue the public good?
—Alexander “You damn dirty prols!” Hamilton
Debates of the Federal Convention (1787)
An echo from the past that still rebounds in the halls of power today. However, it turns out that the wealthy class can easily be more severely criticized than the impoverished masses.
@Peter – Hamilton and Adams were two of the major proponents of an American aristocracy. Even though they lost a lot of battles in their own lives, they’ve clearly won the war.