In my mind, elites are people who choose to exercise their power over others. Everyone can be an elite, there are no exceptions. For example, as a parent and employer, I could choose to be an “elite” anytime I pleased. However, my family and business are stronger and healthier when everyone exercises power over themselves. For that reason, I choose not to exercise my power over others. People have called me a whole lot of names, but no one has ever called me an elite.

That said, I dislike elites intensely. No human being can wield power over hundreds, let alone millions of other people, without destroying more than they build. People who do choose to use their power over others are cruel and destructive – I know of no exceptions.

The leaders we honor and cherish were not elites. I can’t think of even one elite that we honor or cherish – can you? Martin Luther King, for example, chose not to use his power over others and became a much-loved leader. Clarence Thomas chose to use his power over others and became a much-maligned elitist.

Elitism is a choice.