believer;1675856 wrote:This is more or less what I believe as well, but I do believe that there are global "power elites" in politics and business that have an informal network of loose associations but nothing as insidious as an "Illuminati".

Is it anything more than people tend to hang with people at the same socioeconomic level?

queencitybuckeye;1675970 wrote:Is it anything more than people tend to hang with people at the same socioeconomic level?

Absolutely but rest assured when they do "hang" it's for more than just a few martinis and a couple of yucks.

The "elite" (re: ultra rich) want power, and they'll attempt to gain that power whichever way possible. If it is through manipulation of others, or the corruption of stars with the promise of super-stardom... they'll do whatever they can.