The Long Shadow of Inequality: A Cautionary Tale for Tech’s Utopians

Historian Kim Phillips-Fein’s new book, Country of Lords, offers a searing indictment of those who have resisted the ideal of equality in America. Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago, a nation founded on the principle that “all men are created equal,” has been plagued by those who have sought to justify or even celebrate inequality.

At its core, Phillips-Fein’s book is not just about the past; it’s also a warning for our present. As we witness the rise of tech moguls who claim to be revolutionizing society but are actually exacerbating inequality, we would do well to remember the lessons of history. The net worth of Elon Musk and others has soared into the stratosphere, highlighting the yawning chasm between the haves and have-nots.

One of the book’s most striking features is its unexpected juxtaposition of historical figures. John Adams, the Boston lawyer who helped draft the Declaration of Independence, may seem like an odd fellow traveler with Andrew Carnegie and William Graham Sumner, the late 19th-century Social Darwinists. Yet, as Phillips-Fein argues, Adams was ambivalent about egalitarian claims, even going so far as to express a “deep sense of you can have too much egalitarianism” in his writing.

Adams’ views are a reminder that the fight for equality has always been uphill. From George Fitzhugh’s pro-slavery theories to Theodore Lothrop Stoddard’s racist bestseller, The Rising Tide of Color Against White World-Supremacy, there have been countless individuals and ideologies that have sought to justify or even celebrate inequality.

Andrew Carnegie is a fascinating figure in Country of Lords. Unlike his fellow industrialists, Carnegie at least grappled with the moral implications of his wealth. He recognized that the concentration of wealth was “politically dangerous” and created an unstable society where the poor might resent the wealthy. However, despite this awareness, Carnegie’s solution was to invest in massive philanthropic projects rather than addressing the root causes of inequality.

Carnegie’s case raises important questions about the role of philanthropy in perpetuating inequality. While his efforts to build libraries and promote education are laudable, they also reflect a paternalistic attitude that assumes the wealthy know what’s best for the poor. This approach ignores the fact that real equality requires more than just handouts; it demands systemic change.

Phillips-Fein’s book is also a primer on modern inequality, highlighting the ways in which earlier eras’ social Darwinists and racists have influenced contemporary tech moguls. Henry Ford’s racist policies in the early 20th century are eerily echoed in Silicon Valley’s present-day obsession with meritocracy. William Shockley, a co-inventor of the transistor, is a particularly disturbing example of how scientific racism can masquerade as high-minded technological innovation.

Shockley’s descent into racism and pseudoscience is a cautionary tale for tech moguls like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, who claim to be building a utopian future but are actually perpetuating the same old inequalities. If we allow this new generation of tech moguls to define our values and shape our society, we risk repeating the mistakes of history.

As we consider the complex web of inequality in America, Country of Lords reminds us that the fight for equality is not just about economics; it’s also about power and ideology. By understanding the long shadow of inequality, we can begin to imagine a different future – one where technology serves humanity, rather than the other way around.

As the 2020s unfold with their promises of technological transformation and social upheaval, it’s time to take a hard look at the values we’re importing from Silicon Valley. Are we truly committed to building a more equal society, or are we simply perpetuating the same old hierarchies? The answer lies in the choices we make – about how we invest our wealth, whom we empower with power, and what kind of world we want to build.

Country of Lords is a clarion call to action, urging us to confront the dark forces of inequality head-on and to imagine a future where all men are truly created equal. This will require more than just good intentions; it demands a fundamental transformation of our values, our institutions, and our very way of life. The question is: do we have the courage to take on this challenge?