Why Tocqueville is relevant

I believe that reading and discussing "How an Aristocracy May Be Created by Industry" remains relevant to today's world because it is important to recognize that the circumstances of some portion of the modern work force is a byproduct of industry in a democratic country, not solely corrupt politicians or businessmen. Historically, the world has perhaps not changed as much as we would like to believe. When Tocqueville published "Democracy in America", well into the Industrial Revolution worldwide, the "work world" so to speak was very different than it is today; yet his average low socioeconomic worker is a man who makes heads for pins, ours is the cashier at McDonald's. Today's common worker still "loses the general faculty of applying his mind to the way he is working" because of his occupation and "becomes weaker, more limited and more dependent" on his job and employer (125).
In a capitalist democratic society such as we are, it appears that creating a world with some form of aristocracy is impossible. As Tocqueville says "the workman is dependent on masters in  general, but not on a particular master" (127). Therefore, we, in order to remain a functioning society, require some form of aristocracy. It is not greedy businessmen or politicians that force a part of our society into poverty, it is a consequence of industry in a democratic society.

Relevant Then, But Not So Much Now

          Alex de Tocqueville was a brilliant man, and the issues with democracy at the time that he mentioned were valid, but those statements aren't as valid as they used to be. The aristocracy and unfairness of those times created a rift between the classes, and the wealthier people tended to also have more power. This lead to an imbalance at the time, but this imbalance was limited mostly to industry. It was also, "not at all like those that have preceded it." (Tocqueville, 127) Even back then, the supposed "aristocracy," wasn't even the same kind of aristocracy that the others before it was. The difference was that it was contained in industry, preventing much unfairness in areas like the voting system.
          Is it possible, even in the unfairness, that this wasn't a total aristocracy? Today, much of the unfairness in the voting system is gone. Everyone has an equal voice, and equal opportunity. Tocqueville's relevance has faded over time as the equality of the classes has increases. Our democracy is a perfect model of what happens over time as the government develops and equalizes the classes. There are still problems, but every form of government has issues.