Hello Karen,

What I have noticed on the boards is that many writers who use the term "ELITES"...

... are actually referring to a SPECIFIC group, namely vocal and well educated people who want to control, from above, the behaviours and knowledge of those who they see as below them, which is to say that they assume for themselves a superiority not shared by their lesser neighbours, a superiority that entitles them to use tools such as censorship and silencing and cunning manipulation to establish wanted end-points for society, in efforts of cooperation with many similar-minded folks having the powers and inclinations just mentioned, a connected army seeking control and singing from the same book.

And so I actually reject your application of the term "ELITE" to a Manning or a Trump or a Palin or a Coulter. Those are folks who, as individuals, spout their spiel ("Governments are too big, taxes should be lower!!) and then yell "Who is with me?!?!".

Not the same animal at all, really.