It is ad hominem. Thing is, ad hominem is often a valid way of arguing, as long as a property or trait in question is relevant to the issue. Yet, as many other things in the internet discussion, it ended up as an easy way to label and disregard arguments of others without putting any effort into discussion.

I think that's naive. Class consciousness is being aware that those with wealth are the ones who set the orthodoxy to begin with. Paul Graham writing a blogspot is irrelevant, he is barely exercising his position while doing so.

Look for corporate meddling into politics and culture war if you want a smokescreen. The current culture wars being identity-based isn't an accident, for example, there won't be a worker's right month same as there won't be a worker's right parade, no corporation is putting money into that.

I'll assume that this was downvoted because the "culture war" dividing America is one of the preeminent expressions of class warfare in this country, and therefore acknowledging class _is_ inherently engaging in the "culture war". Which, fair point.