Sumptuary Laws

Althouse posted on a NYT article, highlighting a comment: "I believe all National Parks should be closed to visitors unless they have been invited. There should be a selection process..."

Some people aren't worthy of being in the parks, or the royal forest. They are, though not in so many words, considered low class.

A very similar air accompanies the calls to live more densely and abandon the use of cars, and to avoid using energy. The exhorters typically don't set the rest of us an example--they're a different class.

The old sumptuary laws were nominally for our own good, to cut down on 'keeping up with the Jones'" spending spirals, keep the balance of trade under control, and to inspire proper humility, but something always showed through: "declare our utter detestation and dislike that men or women of mean condition, educations, and callings should take upon them the garb of gentlemen, by the wearing of gold or silver lace, or buttons,"

The attitude still shows.