Americans of all sorts are awash in luxuries that would have dazzled their grandparents. Social diversity has erased many of the old markers. It has become harder to read people's status in the clothes they wear, the cars they drive, the votes they cast, the god they worship, the color of their skin. The contours of class have blurred; some say they have disappeared.
But class is still a powerful force in American life. Over the past three decades, it has come to play a greater, not lesser, role in important ways. At a time when education matters more than ever, success in school remains linked tightly to class. At a time when the country is increasingly integrated racially, the rich are isolating themselves more and more. At a time of extraordinary advances in medicine, class differences in health and lifespan are wide and appear to be widening.
And new research on mobility, the movement of families up and down the economic ladder, shows there is far less of it than economists once thought and less than most people believe. [Click here for more information on income mobility.] In fact, mobility, which once buoyed the working lives of Americans as it rose in the decades after World War II, has lately flattened out or possibly even declined, many researchers say.Her are some personal stories of encountering class. Read a couple. It will only take a few minutes and will possibly relate to something you've experienced in your life. Think about where you are in terms of class politics in America and what this means for your life.
What do you think?
Are class politics important in America? Has your life been impacted by class politics? Have you ever noticed examples of class politics happening to others? If you think class politics are important, how should that influence your voting behavior? If you think that class politics isn't a significant factor in American politics, why? What do you think prevents class politics from impacting American life?
I believe that class politics are important in america and I believe it to be a bad thing. We put to much emphasis on the rich and the poor and do nothing to stop it, or at least nothing concrete enough to actually create a change. What has the government done to make sure that the poor rise out of poverty? NOT a whole hell of a lot. The government relies on the wealthy to fund their ridiculously expensive campaigns, to make sure that they can get into office. My life has been impacted on the divide of class, I am what you would consider middle class. When I am taxed I get far fewer deductions then the wealthier class does. I did some research and found out that on average the wealthier class gets around $66,000 in tax deduction wear as the middle class only gets around $110. That is a completely ridiculous amount and might just be one of the reasons we have financial problems in america...just a hunch. I notice it everyday the difference in class all you have to do is walk around H lot at Shepherd and see who has the nicer vehicles. Now weather or not that person worked hard and got that car themselves or it was mommy and daddy's who got it for them. I would like to be able to vote the one who understand the wrongness of a class division and someone who does not focus on getting the wealthier vote but actually helps the lower class. Class politics affect Americans every hour of every day.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you a lot about your opinin. There is definite differences in class in our country and the government does little to help it. The reason that politicians do not help poor people is because they don't vote so the politicians do not care about them. They do not help the middle class because it is shrinking and fewer people will fall into that category next year and less the year after that. They mainly just help wealthy people because they help them get elected. The lies that we are a middle class country is a lie that continues because poor and rich people want to say that they are middle class. This makes people keep voting for the same people because they won't admit that we have a problem. This means that little will change any time soon.
DeleteClass politics do matter in America and views on the subject vary depending on where you are from. For instance, where I come from, Petersburg, WV most people are lower middle-class or even living in poverty. Two of my friends were from one of the wealthiest families in the county. However, they did not act like it at all. They tried to cover up how wealthy they were and would rather come to my house than me go to theirs. If someone called them rich, they would deny it, insisting that they were "just like us." It was the social norm for this area to be lower middle-class and that is what they strived for. Other parts of the country are obviously different than this, where people try to be of a higher class. These roles effect the way that people vote. They vote for people who 'represent the population of the area.' I say vote for the best candidate that represents your area, regardless of your class. Of course, this doesn't always happen though. Kevin Hagerty PSCI 100.02
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think you should vote for who you thinks is best and will help make your area better, don't let others or classes affect your vote. Where I'm from everyone was on the same level except for those couple of people from the gated community they would bus over to our school and hey knew and acted like they were better and richer they always had new things to show everyone.
Delete(Stephanie Hennessee PSCI 100 MWF 810-9)
Oh my goodness, when I read this I could not help but laugh! Class politics are a big joke in Mississippi. I moved here from Madison, MS, a suburb north of Jackson. My family has been in Madison for close to 30 years. Yes, it is an affluent town. A million dollar home there is nothing but your neighbor. Now, don’t get to thinking that I have that kind of money as I can assure you that I do not! I grew up in Jackson, MS and the classes there were very separated. You knew by someone’s phone number if they lived on the “wrong side of the tracks” or not. Very rarely did the classes intermingle. The mayor of Madison is now serving her 9th, 4-year term. Her salary is over $100K. Madison has very little crime and a population of approx. 30,000. The people there refer to it as “Mayberry”. On the flip side, the Mayor of Jackson, the Capitol of MS, makes $30,000 a year. Jackson is #3 on the most dangerous city list. It has a population of 150,000. Class plays a huge role in politics. The wealthier people will keep someone in office and pay him or her well if their demands are being met. The poorer people generally do not vote as largely as others do, and I do not believe that they are as knowledgeable of political issues as other classes are.
ReplyDeleteI believe that class politics matter a lot in America, but I feel as though it should not be this way. There is so much difference between the "rich" and the "poor" in the United States. I have close friends that have so much more money than my family that it is not even funny. The difference is though, they do not flaunt their money in a way to put others down. Just like someone commented earlier, they tried to hide their wealth just to fit in. I feel as though, if someone who is running for office claims to be from a "poor" upbringing, they will get more votes to people who experienced the same thing. Same as if there is a rich person and they are talking about issues that poorer people cannot relate to. I think that you should vote for the person who best represents you and the ideas that you stand for. I think class politics affects voting in so many ways, and if someone sees someone who is "the same as them" then they will give them their vote.
ReplyDeleteSeth Myers 100.3
I think that class politics matters a lot in America. You do not see poor people running for campaigns all you see are the rich and I think its bs... What if a poor person has better morals than the rich person, but wait right there that is the problem... they are poor. you never see poor people running for elections because they can't. and just because someone is rich does not make them a great person to make decisions for the population
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, I personally think someone from the middle class should just and get elected because they know some about the upper and lower, but they also know how to improve things so everyone wins and is better off, but for once it will affect the everyone not just the upper class.
Delete(Stephanie Hennessee PSCI 100-03)
Class politics does matter in the US sadly. Growing up in West Virginia, status did not really matter. How much money your parents made did not effect you, although kids are not very judgmental. Where as, when I moved to Virginia specifically in Fairfax County for my junior high years, status was absolutely everything. If you did not wear the designer label or attend a certain concert that past summer you were basically a pariah. I believe that class politics should not be important even though they are in the United States. I believe that anyone no matter where they stand on the economic side should be able to run for office. As long as a person has a good platform and just wants to help the community then they should be able to run for office. It terrifies me that in the US alot of the political offices are controlled by affluent people and that poor people miss out on the chance. Some cities may be better off with a city official that is "poor" then rich.
ReplyDeleteCallie Long PSCI 100.02
I meant PSCI 100.03
DeleteClass politics most certainly matters. No matter what money becomes a factor in anything and everything. The little people don't have a voice unless they can put money forth to prove something.
ReplyDeleteLeandra Rosencrance 100.02
Class politics definitely matter in the US. It's true that a lot of people don't really think about it because it's much harder to place people into class simply by their appearance than it was 50 years ago. I think a certain area where this is most evident is in education. People in the upper classes can afford better education and end up much more educated than people of lowers classes who simply end up going to the local public school.
ReplyDeleteThough I believe class politics should not have an impact in the United States the fact is it has a huge impact. When it comes to voting and politics, if you are not of the rich class then you really cannot have much of an impact. Though America is thought of to be a classless society I think class has a lot to do with life in America. Everyone should be given equal chances based on how hard they work and those who have money are definitely given more of a chance.
ReplyDeleteClass politics absolutely have an effect on this country. 1% of this country owns 99% of the wealth. A disparity like that is bound to cause class politics. I think many wealthy people want to be around the wealthy, and this applies to the workplace, so then that causes a little bit of elitism. Our political system is driven my money and scratching each others backs, it hurts every middle-lower class American. The middle and lower class is the backbone of this country, but they aren't traeted like it. In this country, money is worth more than the well-being of the rest of the country and I'm tired of it. I still believe that a hard working individual can still relive the American Dream. I think that's extremely important. Even if I live in the wealthiest county in the U.S(maybe 2nd). It doesn't really seem like it, most of the people I know whether rich or poor are friendly and rarely mention wealth. It's important. I think that occurs because most people in my town are in good shape, we are a largely middle class-upper class town. I love where I live because most people are decent human beings which is not normal in many areas where wealth is extremely important to people
ReplyDelete. PSCI 100.03
Class politics, unfortunately, has a huge impact In our country and the way it runs. it is just a proven fact that wealthy individual are more likely to vote than those who are poor because of the fact that unfortunately most of the poor are uneducated in the subject of politics. Therefore, the wealthy and business owners are playing a big role in running this country. Also, the fact that the rich are more likely to vote for candidates and also pay for their campaigns then usually ones who are elected will only focus on pleasing the rich.
ReplyDeleteOf course classes matter - that's all anyone talks about. The working class is getting poorer, but the top 1% is getting richer, and there's seemingly nothing to be done about it. Generally, poorer minorities vote left while farmers and mostly upper class people vote right. Money is the biggest influence in everyone's life. To be financially secure (whatever that is...) is all that anyone wants, so they will vote the way they see fit to get that. Classes are always going to matter, and they will always divide us even further.
ReplyDeleteNadean Kline PSCI 100.02
I definitely agree with this statement. Big money wants to create more money whether it has the best outcome for the all the people or not. Just take a look at the election process, the candidates are privately funded. Of course corporate america is going to vote the nominee who best protects their funds.There is no middle class, either the rich get richer or the poor get poorer.
DeleteMichael Wallace
Your class level matters a lot in the world we live in today. Money creates power for people and they take advantage if it. Unfortunately as much as they try to tell us we are all treated equal, we are clearly not. Our vote and such is not important and it has no meaning to it. Class politics will always be a big part in the United States as we are a country where money creates the power for us.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I first really encountered class politics. I realized what it was when I moved to the house I'm living in now. I grew up in a not so great part of Martinsburg, and on my 12th birthday, my family and I moved to my new house in what felt like the middle of nowhere in West Virginia. I now live in a development where there are massive million dollar houses around me. (I don't live in one of those houses) I remember meeting some of my neighbors and realizing they were a bunch of snotty old people who thought they were better than everyone else. Even the kids that used to live in the neighborhood thought they were better than me, just because of the money their parents had. It was really annoying to think that just because they had money and I didn't, they thought they were better than me. And while I don't like admitting it, class politics is a significant factor of American politics. Politicians with money don't care about poor people. The only thing they care about that has to do with poor people, is getting the poor people to re elect them into office. If people were smart, they would stop electing the wealthy politicians who don't give a rat's ass about them, and should start electing people that care about them. Dakota DiMagno PSCI 100.02
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely class politics is a HUGE factor in America. Its pretty much used to describe us; low, middle and upper class. I'd say money is the biggest influence for people. Everyone focuses their lives on money, how to save money, what major to pick to make the most money, etc. Classes will always divide people, therefore, people voting for best fits their category. Rich voting rich and poor voting poor. The sad thing is, when have you ever seen a low or hardly middle class citizen run for election... you don't. They wouldn't stand a chance; financial wise, and society wise.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this money rules the world. When i was in middle school they have to take some quizzes to see what job best fits how you answer the questions, the first time everyone did it honestly, however once he kids saw other kids jobs and how much they were going to make a year some kids went back through and answered to get the better job. I wish I could say money meant nothing to me, but i work all the time to make as much as I can and i miss out on a lot of the little experiences I should be having.
DeleteAlso, in history I learned about the classes and how they worked and we still have them today and each class has no idea what its like to live in another class or anything really about them except the upper is rich and the lower is poor, and the middle is average.
So, yes class politics has a major role in America.
Stephanie Hennessee (PSCI 100) (MWF 8:10-9)
Sorry this will be really short, but it is hard to have "Class Politics" when the only class represented in congress these days is the rich (66% are millionaires) so it would be hard for millionaires to be making decisions for the other "middle" and "lower" classes. On that note I think that we should be more diverse in the people that we elect into congress by class standing.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard, but at the same token this is why there has to be a push for the lower classes to not only vote, but to educate themselves. We need to pay attention to the topics that are on the table and raise a voice loud enough to be heard. Then there will be a shift. The hard part now is that you have to be loaded with money to even make a run for office!
DeleteI think class infuences politics more than anyone realizes. America is so divided by different classes. Whether we want to beleive it or not class does have a bearing on how people vote and that's historically accurate.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the 1% has any idea how the other 99% lives day to day. To me, its the 1% I think is not equally represented. Yes, it's easy to be bitter because they seem to have it easy and not have to worry about who or whats going on politically. But, 99% of the country is in a different "class" than they are and probably will vote in ways that won't fairly impact the 1%.
I would have to respectfully disagree about the 1% being unfairly represented because as you already know, that 1 % contains that 66% of people in congress that are millionaires. Furthermore, as sad as it may be, money will also rule over the majority. Politicians are more likely to focus on keeping the promises of those who fund his campaign and help him or her get into office financially rather then those who voted him or her into office .
DeleteDa'shawn Long ( PSCI 100.03)
I think class politics are very important in this country whether the rich politicians believe so or not. We are all about helping other people around the world when we can't even help a single mom make enough money to get a baby sitter after school for her child. Class politics are a huge problem because we are not all middle class, I know I'm not and I'll be the first to say it. My mom makes practically nothing and yes I am getting help with school so I cannot complain but it is still very hard. From my view we need more class politics in this country so more people can get help when big businesses take their jobs over seas and leave Americans who want to work with no shot in getting a job.
ReplyDeleteSo true. The middle class has become none existent and it seems that the upper crust would like to keep it that way and create even a lower class with the way they move the jobs around. The upper class definitely have control over us and our society.
DeleteI think class politics is very important, students should be aware with what is going on in America. Growing up in West Virginia I found that in most cases people will consider themselves "middle class". I have wealthier friends and poorer friends and they would both say that are "middle class". I think politians like to rank themselves as middle class so they can seem to fit in with society more. Voters need to elect the best candidate for their state.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I know that class politics affect is education. Someone in an higher class, say the 1 %, will be exposed to a by far better education than say someone one of low class. Those of higher class usually are exposed to a college education in high school, an high school education in middle, and a mixture of elementary and middle school education in K through fifth grade. This type of advance, faster learning system contributes to this social class gape in this country, as more opportunity is limited to the amount of money you have. In todays time, mobility between classes are becoming more and more less likely. Before doing any research on why this is, I concluded based off my everyday living that it is because everything today is more expensive, and more about networking that you would have obtain based on your exposure to certain opportunities. In addition, policy set in place by congress heavily benefit the wealthy and more so negatively impact the middle and low class. Reasons for this could be because 66 % of congress are millionaires and whose to say someone of that class can represent the 99 % of Americans who make less than 500 hundred thousand a year. What truly needs to change in this country is money being what motivates people, congress, to do right and instead needs to be the well being of others that motivates people to do right.
ReplyDeleteDa'shawn Long ( PSCI 100.03)
Class politics are important in America that is sets goals to strive for. If everyone were born with the same and there were no social classes in existence there would be nothing to work towards or no reason for achievement. I think that in our case here in the U.S. that the separation of classes has become out of control. Many other countries have this same type of separation and they are for the most part ran by the upper class with no say from the bottom classes.
ReplyDeleteMy life has definitely been impacted by class politics. I was raised in what was then considered a middle class family, which was a real good life at the time. There was one parent working not two and yet there was always more than enough to have a good life. And my father was a truck driver, so it wasn't like he was making tons of money. Then as the years have progressed the economy and cost of living increased, health care decreased, and salaries have stayed close to the same. This has created a huge class shift over a short 25 year time span. I have watched it affect how people vote over the years as their "good living" became "enough to get by". It was most of the families I grew up and around all going through the same thing. They all had homes, cars, college savings, savings, and voted pretty much alike every year. Then as the climate shifted and you could see these things not going as far there seemed to be more debate when it came to politics in general. It was not effecting everyone on a more negative basis, which was cause for concern. I believe that class politics is always going to, and should, affect ones voting. You have to vote for issues that you believe in and usually those issues are going to be the ones that would be in you and your families best interest. If you do not vote at least on the state and local level you may loose more of what is important to your livelihood. This being said, one should educated themselves on the candidates and the topics before they cast a vote. One of our greatest problems today in America is ignorance in politics and current events and issues.