This article reads like it was written by a sociopath. Unless you are a sociopath, there are many reasons to treat other people with dignity and respect that aren't about gaining some sort of power.

I'm respectful of other people out of a desire to be a decent human being rather than because I have "a loathing for common people" or wish to gain some sort of social currency.

I'm having a hard time formulating reasons why people would get so psychotically upset about what used to be considered just good manners unless they're both entirely devoid of empathy themselves, and threatened by people who do experience empathy.