Lynn Stuart Parramore — Piketty paranoia: Why conservatives are suddenly terrified of revolution

On the June cover of the conservative magazine American Spectator, a vision arises from the collective unconscious of the rich. Angry citizens look on as a monocled fatcat is led to a blood-soaked guillotine, calling up the memory of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, when tens of thousands were executed, many by what came to be known as the “National Razor.” The caption reads, “The New Class Warfare: Thomas Piketty’s intellectual cover for confiscation.” One member of the mob can be seen holding up a bloody copy of the French economist’s recent book, Capital in the 21st Century. 

Confiscation, of course, can only mean one thing. Off with their heads! In reality, the most “revolutionary” thing Professor Piketty calls for in his best-sellling tome is a wealth tax, but our rich are very sensitive.

In his article, however, James Pierson warns that a revolution is afoot, and that the 99 percent is going to try to punish the rich. The ungrateful horde is angry, he says, when they really should be celebrating their marvelous good fortune and thanking their betters:

Woman on fire.

Salon
Piketty paranoia: Why conservatives are suddenly terrified of revolution
Lynn Stuart Parramore, Alternet

Since Nixon's Southern strategy, US politics on the right has largely based on creating resentment. Until recently, the resentment as been directed at the "takers" aka "moochers." Now the politics of resentment is shifting as the middle class finds itself slipping behind, the American dream slipping away from them and their children, and the world closing in on them with the race to the bottom euphemistically called globalization.