While progressives believe that none should be above the other, that's not the rule for them. They see themselves as the aristocrats of old saw themselves, or the apparatchiks of the old Soviet Union saw themselves.
One conservative blog has the motto, "In every liberal, there's a tyrant shouting to be released." However, its not that simple -- some desire to emulate the old Marquis, a few prefer von Sacher-Masoch.