Liberal, Elites, etc. (San Jose, Oakland: middle-class, sales, public schools)

[sjcassin]

What are all the different groups that people class there beliefs as and what does it all mean?

[jzt83]

Not clear on what you are trying to ask, but I'll answer anyway. If you asking about the different social-class systems in SF, then I'll try to break it down for you. First off, keep in mind that the US doesn't have a rigid social-class system as in England where social-class mobility is less more difficult. Social-class in the US is based more upon one's income and assets, or the presentation of being wealthy. People often go from living in projects (low-class) (similar to council estates) to becoming millionaires (upper-class). Conversely, people can fall from being a millionaire (upper-class) to being broke (lower-class). Essentially the wealthier you are, the high class you are. But then there are people who look poor and wear cheap used clothing but are rich and vice versa. Sometimes class is a more a facade, sometimes is aligns to what society deems is proper.

SF is one of the most wealthiest cities in the US along with the entire San Jose-SF-Oakland metro region. It is also a region with a great divide between the rich and poor. There are the rich folks making 100,000 + (often times a lot more) a year working in the financial, health, law, and tech sectors. Many of these folks are well-educated from Ivy league universities and from other states and countries. I suspect one reason for the importing of brains is due to the crummy SF grade school educational system, which doesn't churn out enough talent. Another group of rich folks have either inherited their money or are supported by rich parents. These I are the idle rich and make up a decent portion of the population.

Then there's the majority of the people who either work at mid-level positions earning under 100,000 a year for the government such as transit operator and city clerks down to those working the service sector working as sales clerks, waiters, etc earning less than 50,000. There is also a high proportion of independent business owners who I guess range from poor to upper-middle class depending on how well their business is doing.

[hsw]

Good summary...

But would observe that many of the wealthiest <40yo guys in SiliconValley are kids from middle-class families from rest of US; often attended mediocre suburban public schools....but figured out how to gain admission to a decent college; did well....and made a few bucks at a young age....education and achievement is a dynamic that requires parents and kids who want to achieve....not much, esp knowledge/skills, in life is just "handed" to anyone

Lots of wealthy founders and senior executives at major tech and financial firms in SF/SiliconValley are originally from Podunk US, as well as India, Germany, etc....

Often amusing is the class warfare that exists in SF's PacificHts...often between new, big money from SiliconValley that views "old" SF money as somewhat dim-witted and kind of puny vs standards of today's SV...esp when a decent 1BR apt in SF costs >$1MM....

[sjcassin]

Originally Posted by jzt83

Not clear on what you are trying to ask, but I'll answer anyway. If you asking about the different social-class systems in SF, then I'll try to break it down for you. First off, keep in mind that the US doesn't have a rigid social-class system as in England where social-class mobility is less more difficult. Social-class in the US is based more upon one's income and assets, or the presentation of being wealthy. People often go from living in projects (low-class) (similar to council estates) to becoming millionaires (upper-class). Conversely, people can fall from being a millionaire (upper-class) to being broke (lower-class). Essentially the wealthier you are, the high class you are. But then there are people who look poor and wear cheap used clothing but are rich and vice versa. Sometimes class is a more a facade, sometimes is aligns to what society deems is proper.

SF is one of the most wealthiest cities in the US along with the entire San Jose-SF-Oakland metro region. It is also a region with a great divide between the rich and poor. There are the rich folks making 100,000 + (often times a lot more) a year working in the financial, health, law, and tech sectors. Many of these folks are well-educated from Ivy league universities and from other states and countries. I suspect one reason for the importing of brains is due to the crummy SF grade school educational system, which doesn't churn out enough talent. Another group of rich folks have either inherited their money or are supported by rich parents. These I are the idle rich and make up a decent portion of the population.

Then there's the majority of the people who either work at mid-level positions earning under 100,000 a year for the government such as transit operator and city clerks down to those working the service sector working as sales clerks, waiters, etc earning less than 50,000. There is also a high proportion of independent business owners who I guess range from poor to upper-middle class depending on how well their business is doing.

Excellent info there. Not quite what I was asking for but was still some good information.

Let me try again - perhaps its maybe something to do with political parties? Republication, Liberals, Democrates, etc. These sort of groups I have read people making comments like "....not that good because of the liberals..." etc. Does that make it any clearer? I just wanted to know what each stand for and why people follow it?

[sjcassin]

Originally Posted by jzt83

Not clear on what you are trying to ask, but I'll answer anyway. If you asking about the different social-class systems in SF, then I'll try to break it down for you. First off, keep in mind that the US doesn't have a rigid social-class system as in England where social-class mobility is less more difficult. Social-class in the US is based more upon one's income and assets, or the presentation of being wealthy. People often go from living in projects (low-class) (similar to council estates) to becoming millionaires (upper-class). Conversely, people can fall from being a millionaire (upper-class) to being broke (lower-class). Essentially the wealthier you are, the high class you are. But then there are people who look poor and wear cheap used clothing but are rich and vice versa. Sometimes class is a more a facade, sometimes is aligns to what society deems is proper.

SF is one of the most wealthiest cities in the US along with the entire San Jose-SF-Oakland metro region. It is also a region with a great divide between the rich and poor. There are the rich folks making 100,000 + (often times a lot more) a year working in the financial, health, law, and tech sectors. Many of these folks are well-educated from Ivy league universities and from other states and countries. I suspect one reason for the importing of brains is due to the crummy SF grade school educational system, which doesn't churn out enough talent. Another group of rich folks have either inherited their money or are supported by rich parents. These I are the idle rich and make up a decent portion of the population.

Then there's the majority of the people who either work at mid-level positions earning under 100,000 a year for the government such as transit operator and city clerks down to those working the service sector working as sales clerks, waiters, etc earning less than 50,000. There is also a high proportion of independent business owners who I guess range from poor to upper-middle class depending on how well their business is doing.

Where would you place nurse's in the social scale?

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by sjcassin

Excellent info there. Not quite what I was asking for but was still some good information.

Let me try again - perhaps its maybe something to do with political parties? Republication, Liberals, Democrates, etc. These sort of groups I have read people making comments like "....not that good because of the liberals..." etc. Does that make it any clearer? I just wanted to know what each stand for and why people follow it?

Liberal elite is Neo-con Republican speak for "them's that ain't like us". It's a put down, to make people feel that the ones using the term ARE just like the ones they are saying it to. Even though they aren't.

It's just another way to divide us up.

[jzt83]

Politics1 - Guide to American Political Parties info regarding the parties in the US. Generally liberals are democrats and conservatives are republicans. But that is oversimplifying things. There are so many nuances and things to mention. Plus I am lazy.

[jzt83]

Depending on whom you ask and pay rate, Nurses are middle to upper middle class in SF. They earn around 70k - 120k a year.

[joebaldknobber]

Elites try to dictate how others live.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by joebaldknobber

Elites try to dictate how others live.

How so??