It sounded like a political satire: In a secret Signal group chat, former members of Donald Trump’s administration gathered to discuss war strategies. By mistake, someone had invited Jeffrey Goldberg – the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. The news broke like a bombshell. But behind the chuckles and headlines lay something far more serious: an uncensored glimpse into how the powerful speak when they think no one’s listening.
The most quoted line came from vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance, who dryly wrote:
“I just hate saving Europe again.”
Perhaps it was sarcasm. Perhaps not. Regardless, it revealed what many of us have long suspected – that the global elite, regardless of nationality or political color, often harbors a deep contempt, or at the very least an exhausted superiority, toward the people they claim to serve.
Behind closed doors – and encrypted apps
When power speaks without an audience, we see its true face. This is not unique to the U.S., nor to the political right or left. It’s a symptom of a global elite culture, where those with influence, wealth, and access increasingly distance themselves from the everyday people they govern.
The Signal chat is just one example. Consider our own national equivalents – the secretive text threads between ministers, communications advisors, and PR strategists. When “unfiltered” becomes a lifestyle – but only behind closed doors.
What do they really say when we’re not listening?
And more importantly:
What do they think of us?
A new aristocracy
We like to think that power in democratic societies is born from the people. Through elections, hard work, and a connection to the public. But in practice, the opposite is becoming true. A new aristocracy is emerging – not with crowns, but with logos on their chests, fancy job titles, and exclusive access to the corridors of power.
And this new aristocracy? It’s cynical. It’s tired of the people’s worries. It wants control. It wants the narrative. And when the old narrative – the will of the people – gets in the way, it reshapes it. Quietly. Efficiently. Always present.
J.D. Vance’s comment exposed what many in power circles really think: Europe, and by extension its people, is not something to cherish – it’s something to rescue. Again. And again. A chore. Not a shared responsibility.
Sweden is no exception
We don’t have to look far to find Swedish examples. Remember the early days of the pandemic? While citizens stayed home, lost jobs, and followed strict advice, decision-makers vacationed abroad, bought houses in Spain, and carried on as if nothing had happened.
When someone in power stumbles, it’s a “communications issue.”
When a regular citizen slips up, it’s a moral failure.
Us vs. Them
And that’s the heart of the matter. We’ve built a society where "we" – the people – and "they" – the elite – no longer meet. Not in grocery stores. Not in conversation. Not even in shared reality.
That’s why the Signal chat revelation hit so hard. It pulled the curtain aside. It showed the raw language, the jokes, the assumptions – a world where citizens are burdens, not partners.
It’s no longer about Trump or Biden. About war or peace. It’s about who counts as a human – and who’s just another data point.
A wider pattern
Look at the climate debate. Politicians fly private jets to climate summits, while citizens are shamed for heating their homes. Look at the job market. Ordinary people must adapt, re-train, and struggle – while CEOs walk away with million-dollar parachutes.
Look at democracy itself. We vote every four years. They influence policy every day – via lobbyists, networks, and exclusive dinners.
The pattern is clear: “We know better than you. We save you – even though we hate it.”
Time to speak plainly
It’s easy to feel powerless. But we must also admit the truth. We’ve been too polite. Too trusting. We’ve allowed the elite to build their bubble, unchallenged.
And in our quest for comfort, we’ve sometimes agreed to the illusion. Because it’s easier not to see. Not to ask. To believe that “they” know best.
But when The Atlantic’s editor was accidentally pulled into the elite’s private group chat – we all got a glimpse.
And we should never forget what we saw.
A new kind of resistance
Resistance today doesn’t need violence. It needs intelligence. Organization. Courage. We must build new ways to gather. New stories. New communities that put the people back in the driver’s seat.
This means demanding transparency. Not just in documents, but in attitudes. We must dare to ask how the powerful see us – and walk away when the answer is not good enough.
The elite needs us – not the other way around
Finally, let’s be clear. It’s not the people in secret chats who carry society. It’s us. The ones who drive buses. Build bridges. Create music. Heal the sick. Clean the floors after fancy meetings.
We don’t need saving.
They need our trust – and that trust is almost gone.
When power begins to hate saving Europe, perhaps it’s time for Europe – and every citizen – to save themselves. By reclaiming the story. The power. The truth.
Because we are many.
And we are awake.
By Chris...
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