[shakyshakyshaky]

Now I don't like the terminology "elites" as it lends itself to populism, but in this framework it's useful.

Soon enough, the elites will not be overthrowable. The advantage that the many have over the few is the retraction of their consent; without housekeepers, farmers, maintenance workers, the rich have historically been forced to capitulate because they couldn't maintain their standard of living without the workers. With the rising tide of automation, I can see a very near future where the workers are simply obsolete, and the division between classes will become so wide as to be completely un-transversable. Those in control of the farmland and the machines that tend it will have no use for the lower classes any more. That's why we need to work on decentralized production, with households owning a production factor of their own which will keep them producing value. Think decentralized factories.