Why are elites out of touch? They think anyone who disagrees with them is crazy

Not a single expert has questioned his own beliefs. Not a single word on the dysfunction of the EU, or why exactly cosmopolitanism should be embraced. And the Brexit is just one example where the experts put the blame on the general public. Another is Trump. With few exceptions, most of the establishment calls Trump a fascist, a racist and a danger to American democracy. But he won enough votes to handily secure a major party’s nomination. And again, instead of questioning why their voice has become irrelevant, the elites blame the masses. This trend cannot go on.

Why? Because it is counterproductive. Everyone recognizes the gap between the elites and the public. But by claiming the public is ignorant, racist, or paranoiac, you only widen the gap. That should not be our reality. A nation is strongest when the elites and the populace share a common goal. When they become rivals, opportunistic leaders use the situation to gain power. If we wish to protect democracy, to stop the decline of Western power, we should find a way to restore the elites influence on people’s hearts and minds.

How? By replacing the elite’s language. If you look back at the articles I cited, you’ll see a common language. A language not of rational discussion, of pros and cons, but of psychology. A writer explains the public based on its emotional or intellectual qualities. “The public is angry,” or “the people are ignorant.” In other cases, such as when discussing Trump’s supporters, the writer will usually use adjectives from psychology. “The Republican nominee is manipulative, his supporters xenophobic.” You will rarely find a writer addressing the arguments against the elites plans and values. Why is that? Well, if the people are ignorant, they should be educated. If they are angry, they should be medicated. We do not need to address people’s concern about immigrants, because their concern is xenophobic and—again—ignorant. The language of psychology opens no discussion. In the writer’s mind he is a therapist, helping his opponent understand the hidden reasons for his arguments. Once the opponent recognize his problem, he can be treated, “educated.”