The Elite Pipeline: Internships

As we move further and further toward a Plutocracy of the 1%, systems are being erected to ensure that a new aristocracy is resurrected for the long term. There is, of course, the obvious examples of Citizens eliminating any hint of parity in campaign financing, the networking advantages that have always worked to confer unfair advantages, the elimination of the federal estate tax ensuring that most of a fortune can be passed on from generation to generation, the mini-dynasties in politics of the Bush’s and Clintons and the continued political clout of Wall Street fighting against tax reform and regulation of any kind and serving as the key money generator on both sides of the income equation. But there are less obvious institutional and cultural norms that foster this inequality. One is the end to affirmative action and reduction in financial aid (in lieu of loans) that has repopulated the Ivy League and best universities primarily with children in the top 10%. There is the takeover of the media by the elites, ensuring that their perspective dominates the debate (not least of which includes Jeff Bezos takeover of the once venerable Washington Post. And maybe least obvious of all is the unpaid internship programs in Washington DC, New York and other major cities that Salon.

Ironically, as debates rage on about upping the minimum wage for low skill, low paid workers, many White House interns would be delighted just to get the current one. That is because WH interns are paid nothing, together with few meals and no housing. Who can afford to take an unpaid internship in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S.? Well, only those who are independently wealthy, which is a rarity for those who would be interested in internships, or the children of the wealthy. As the Salon article points out, even the upper middle class might not have enough extra money sitting around to pay for a three month jaunt in DC, particularly as they are most likely paying the exorbitant tuition costs that have doubled in the past 20 years. And these internships are a nice gateway into a DC job upon graduation.

When we add the revolving door between DC and corporate America, the huge networks elite university education’s provide, the social and cultural capital these children gain growing up and the advantages of good ole liquid assets, is it any wonder that someone as unimpressive as George Bush was able to not only “win” the presidency but a second term? Is this really the world we want to live in? A society that doesn’t provide competition for key leadership positions is one that will continue to decline over time. Just think of how few great children of great men or women you can think of and you have your answer (or simply look at the kids of Hollywood royalty and what they have done to that industry).