How about inherited wealth? Would that disqualify a Chinese fellow as a sage?
Also, as if worshipping the wisdom of the rich isn't stupid enough, we Americans also worship, not just the wisdom, but even the honesty of actors!
Now let's take a typical actor, what does he do for a living? He comes out on stage (or whatever) and says, "I am not really Ronnie R., even though my fingerprints say that I am. No, I am Hamlet, or Dirty Harry, or something like that." In other words, every actor is a full-time professional liar, a guy who makes his living presenting himself believably while reciting what audience and performers alike know to be plain untruths.
So when a company wants to make a advertisement, say, in praise of their particular brand of motor oil or life insurance, who do they hire to convince the public of their bona fides? A professional actor, of course? Who else would be a likelier expert on motor oil, or life insurance? And whose sincerity can you trust in better than that of an actor? And it works: the public buys it!
Yours WDK - WKiernan at concentric.net
** Sancho, que te parece, cuan mal quisto soy de encantadores? **