[lbo-talk] ruling class

[Miles Jackson]

Doug Henwood wrote:
> Miles Jackson wrote:
>> So according to this terminology, Doug's interested in the psychology 
>> of the governing class/power elite, not the ruling class. (It's 
>> strange to me how fuzzy the concept "ruling class" is on a left-wing
>> mail list!)
> 
> 
> Hmm, that's not the way I'm thinking of it. I'm thinking of a 
> politically engaged subset of the bourgeoisie who, with the help of 
> hired hands (lobbyists, politicians, pundits, professors, publicists), 
> control state policy and the production of ideology.
> 

That's what Mills would call the "economic sector" of the power elite. 
(Jim provided a nice synopsis of Mills upthread).  The more I think 
about this, the more I agree with Mills that the term "ruling class" is 
not very useful.

Miles