What do unsuccessful academics do?

What is the origin of academics' pervasive moral stance as guarantors of individual freedom against an oppressive society, coupled with an elitism and disdain for populist movements of either liberal or conservative stripe?

• Consider the moral stance of liberal academics (necessarily stereotyped, of course).  What is the relationship between academia, individualism, and elitism?  The premise of the question is that under neoliberalism, corporations and powerful economic interests have co-opted individualism and constructed it into an oppresive force, that the historical concern of academics with the power of the State is now outmoded, and that populist and community-building initiatives have an important role in creating buffers for individuals against oppressive control of society's current holders of power.  If this is true, then the traditional academic concerns miss the mark.

• Answer:

  I believe the origin you are seeking is the egotistic view that since they have more degrees they must be smarter and better and have a moral duty to look out for society at risk to mob mentality of populism (stereotyped, of course).  Does the monkey house not need a zookeeper?