The author says that there is a fallacious belief in certain sections that America is dominated by a uniform
Establishment
consisting of white males with a privileged social background. This
Establishment is supposed to control the major institutions of American life, especially business life. This belief is especially prevalent among those who regard themselves as anti-Establishment! The author says that conformity is a feature of all societies, at every stage of development. Further, says the author, a certain amount of conformity is required if societies are not to break down altogether
The portrayal of
businessmen as a pillar of the Establishment is part of this process; and is a misleading stereotype as well. It is true that money can often be translated into power – but big businessmen are often quite vulnerable as they are accountable to unions, stockholders and the government. In fact, businessmen are not more competitive than people in any other profession! The author says that a certain cynicism towards authority is true of people everywhere – and that there is not much that businessmen can do to change this attitude.
The author says that careers that have high social and economic status in America are not the same as those elsewhere in the world. Engineers in America are regarded as mere employees, but elsewhere they are regarded as high-status professionals. Doctors have a very high status in America – but not so elsewhere.
Students in elite colleges are seeking what they regard as autonomous and independent careers (Law / Medicine) where they will not be subject to the demands of their peers and colleagues. These students are disenchanted with authority – and the large organizations that symbolize this authority. They believe that in large corporations they will be subject to an (arbitrary) hierarchy. In other words, they want high status as much as they want a high income. But elsewhere, students just want to learn something that will get them a job as soon as they graduate.
The author says that a legal career does not train people for the trade-offs necessary among competing interests and groups. Management and economics students, on the other hand, acquire knowledge of cost / benefit relationships, and the ability to deal with complex statistics. The author says that the future of this country (as part of the international economy) lies in training people who can be productive; rather that in training people – lawyers - who raise objections with the production process.