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Some Americans don’t believe all people are created equal. Their movement is going mainstream, this author says
A new book says inequality and elite rule are spreading as Americans revisit ideas that challenge democracy and equal rights.
- Historian Phillips-Fein argues in a new book that a "shadow tradition" of anti-egalitarians who have fought against America's founding ideas is moving into the mainstream, claiming inequality is necessary to organize social life.
- As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Phillips-Fein notes the Revolutionary era was driven by a hatred of hierarchy and inequality, contrasting sharply with the "shadow tradition" rejecting the Declaration of Independence's belief that all men are created equal.
- Vice President Vance stated in 2025 that America is not a creedal nation, while Musk said in a 2025 interview that "the fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy." Both echo anti-egalitarian themes.
- Phillips-Fein writes that this tradition supports the idea that rich people are smarter and more capable than others; the book discusses AndrewCarnegie, a 20th-century wealthy figure, illustrating how historical elitism enables today's extreme wealth concentration.
- To revive egalitarianism, Phillips-Fein suggests increased political engagement and deeper study of the country's past, noting that studying history is a tremendous resource for creating a more democratic and egalitarian future for Americans.
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KEZI 9 News
KEZI 9 NewsThey maintain as self-evident truth that only a fool believes all men are created equal. Look around you, they say. Most of the…
·Chevy Chase, United States
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Some Americans don’t believe all people are created equal. Their movement is going mainstream, this author says
Some prominent Americans argue that extreme inequality is not only inevitable in the US but also good for the country, says author Kim Phillips-Fein.
·Atlanta, United States
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left1Leaning Right1Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution82% Center
Bias Distribution
- 82% of the sources are Center
82% Center
C 82%
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