R: Revive Noblesse Oblige

Friday, February 8th, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the Berkeley Mendenhall Room

Nocret, Jean. Mythological portrait of Louis XIV and the royal family. 1670. Oil on canvas. 306 x 426.5 cm. Musée de l'Histoire de France, Versailles.

At the 2012 Republican National Convention, Ann Romney broke from her mode of awkwardly portraying her husband as a relatable everyman when she promised that "No one will work harder. No one will care more. And no one will move heaven and earth like Mitt Romney to make this country a better place to live." Isn't this the kind of president we need? It's a shame that Romney may have downplayed his greatest advantage - his privileged lifestyle. He was born, raised, and educated as an aristocrat, and that preparation would have helped him be a completely different kind of leader than President Obama. We cannot pretend that there is not a noble class in America, so ought we continue to support populist meritocracy instead of welcoming help from the top? What should this help look like? Can a person lead well without personally knowing the experiences of the people he leads?