Sir, – The continual casual categorisation of certain sections of Irish society by the media as being our elites is infuriating. We are all very aware who these so-called elite groupings are at this stage. However, the accurate meaning and dictionary definition of an elite is confined to “a choice or select body; the pick or best part of society”.
If you are at ease in using the word elite to describe these ideologically motivated power brokers in Irish society, fair enough. I differ and contend that this small and cohesive category of “elites” are those who have been and are still primarily responsible for crafting and implementing national policies that have plagued our State since the 1930s and have lead inevitably to national ruin.
To my mind the elite of Ireland are our non-profit organisations and NGOs; employers, employees and the self-employed who are fighting for survival; carers, community workers and those who represent the disadvantaged, the weak and marginalised; and those commentators who have the integrity to speak the truth.
I suggest that those who are currently categorised as elites, who display an inter-group bias and prejudice, should be more correctly described as being a cross-section between oligarchs and plutocrats and should be labelled as “plutoligarchs”. – Yours, etc,