This term is employed to describe those Americans who would delude themselves and their caste as to their importance in the shaping of morality and the preeminence of that morality on a national and even global scale. The inherent wrong in such individuals is not their belief in the beneficial nature of some particular morality. It is the belief that others are to be sacrificed, indeed must be sacrificed, so as to promote and maintain the preeminence of this particular moralist caste in a hierarchical structure of power. There is also the companion belief that the creation and maintenance of such a political structure will inevitably attract and ensconce a righteousness that will lead the people and the nation to a more rewarding existence.
It is important to understand that in our currently disabled system of representation there is no formal conspiracy necessary to the perfection of such aristocracy. There is no need for malicious intent among the much broader group formed by the wealthy members of the society. All that is required is a few rare instances of delusional megalomania and aristocracy will begin its formation. And in our current system, where the people themselves are effectively denied representation by the continued spread of disinformation, and the lust for power possessed of our supposed representatives, aristocracy will grow, indeed has grown, on its own. The various members of the society, will seek to protect themselves by joining or being smiled upon and/or tolerated by this exclusive club and will add to the preeminence of this group and seem to justify its existence. When asked why he robbed banks, the man replied "Because that's where the money is". The tendency of individuals to self preservation and to want to be included in the ranks of the successful, in the ranks of the true leaders of the nation, in the "upper crust", is undeniable. Such human nature contributes to the self fulfilling nature of aristocracy. When the majority of the citizenry is prevented from taking an active role in governance there comes a point at which we are seemingly bereft of choice. We must join this unwholesome collective or be crushed.
To say that the human desire to compete and to be successful is somehow less than righteous is an error. To strive for success, to pursue one's own fulfillment is not wrong or malicious. But when we seek to protect and add to our stations, our preeminence, our accumulated wealth, by disadvantaging others we are in the wrong. And it does not matter what morality we might represent or employ to justify our actions. There is a word that describes the core of aristocracy; a word that describes its true nature of delusional self importance in all its ugliness. That word is greed.