Has dystopian sci-fi been wrong all along?
Typically the embedded story (at least in the stories I'm familiar with) seems to be that elites leave earth or somehow isolate themselves from the rest of society and maliciously leave the rest of the planet behind. In some way the intention of those elites tends to be painted as evil for the fact that they did this to the rest of human civilization.
When I think about those stories I can't help but wonder if we're actually seeing the opposite of that unravel. Where it's the "rest of society" who are pushing "elites" (probably a better way to put it is higher socioeconomic position) to want to escape the insanity they're creating with their categorical misunderstanding of (or lack of curiosity about) "how the world works".
Hopefully I'll be given the opportunity to be an early investor in the first venture to build a space colony, even if it's only to orbit the planet, or someplace like the moon. :) I don't think I'll hesitate if the opportunity arises. Curious if anyone else wants to contribute their thoughts on this?
Interesting. My perception is pretty much the opposite of yours, that such fiction has been mostly on point so far. The "elites" (and particularly the tech "elites") have built their own world that is pretty much completely disconnected from ours in a day-to-day sense. They live in compounds, have what are basically private armies to increase that separation, and view people as resources to be exploited. They could not be more separate from normal people without actually leaving the planet.
Remember that almost everything in sci-fi is allegory. You can effectively leave the Earth without ever physically leaving the Earth.
I think about 50 years ago there began a slow shift from warnings of overt totalitarianism (1984, Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451) to threats of social fragmentation, economic inequality, corporate surveillance and other indirect forms of control, the resulting loss of individualism and, of course, ecological collapse. These issues seem to remain relevant for the foreseeable future.
I also believe that no one really understands how the world works, not even the elites. Incidentally, this is the most powerful argument for democracy that I know of.
There are a number of others, though as well where the recurring theme seems to be the "evil elites" leaving the poor to fend for themselves.
Definitely agree, no one "knows" how the world works. I don't think the OP presumes anyone does. The intention in saying this was to point out that there are some (these days it seems many) who are off the mark in an almost tragic way, and have no desire to reflect / improve on this.
Elites are stupid as fuck, but it makes sense why they end up that way. Money and power allow for immunity from consquence and the creation of a bubble of delusion which fosters a friends circle of yes men that prevents any opportunities for self reflection or criticism.
Pull the wool back a little, peek outside, and see how the grifter techbros are still pushing for that bleak dystopia where they will feel validated by the masses who haven't hoarded billions in wealth.