I said, or implied, that there was a difference in tone.  And moreover, the old establishment, in the olden days (before about 1980), had rather more of a sense of social responsibility--noblesse oblige, if you like--that has atrophied alarmingly since.

I've been meaning to read Phillips' Wealth and Democracy for some time but haven't got around to it.  Thanks for the reference to the other book, and the dKos thread.  I'll bump both the books up higher on my "to do" list!