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I've written this before, but in America, the issue of class is peculiar in its emphasis on income alone. I believe socioeconomic class is a three-legged stool of power, prestige, and property, which is why discussions of whether or not the owner of a plumbing company and a trust funder with the same annual income are of the same class so interesting but next-to-impossible to resolve. We're ignoring the other two legs of the stool.
I believe socioeconomic class is a three-legged stool of power, prestige, and property, which is why discussions of whether or not the owner of a plumbing company and a trust funder with the same annual income are of the same class so interesting but next-to-impossible to resolve.
I get the point you are trying to make, but again, this is a temporal observation. People who own plumbing companies can and do run for office (gain power), purchase property, and from those two, gain plenty of prestige. We've had celebrity Presidents for gods sake, and plenty of D-list TV reality stars and hack pro athletes have become national legislators, which is just predicated on having money.
If the gatekeepers to class & prestige were as strong as some would like to think they are, that wouldn't be happening. They aren't; the only ticket is money, a little bit of time, and not being absolutely stupid.
It's like that Chris Rock bit about the distinction between rich and wealthy: well those guys that used to be just 'rich' OWN TEAMS NOW.
I get the point you are trying to make, but again, this is a temporal observation. People who own plumbing companies can and do run for office (gain power), purchase property, and from those two, gain plenty of prestige. We've had celebrity Presidents for gods sake, and plenty of D-list TV reality stars and hack pro athletes have become national legislators, which is just predicated on having money.
If the gatekeepers to class & prestige were as strong as some would like to think they are, that wouldn't be happening. They aren't; the only ticket is money, a little bit of time, and not being absolutely stupid.
It's like that Chris Rock bit about the distinction between rich and wealthy: well those guys that used to be just 'rich' OWN TEAMS NOW.
What I'm trying to get across is that in America there is an unusual emphasis on income as the definer of social class over the corollary characteristics of prestige and power. It's a running theme in financial forums all over the internet: what is my material worth and how does it compare to others?
What I'm trying to get across is that in America there is an unusual emphasis on income as the definer of social class over the corollary characteristics of prestige and power. It's a running theme in financial forums all over the internet: what is my material worth and how does it compare to others?
Because that's the first leg of upperclass for those not in it. You can't establish prestige and power without monetary wealth, without the first one you are just subject to the genetic lottery.At least to a certain extent income and wealth is within your own power.
Because that's the first leg of upperclass for those not in it. You can't establish prestige and power without monetary wealth, without the first one you are just subject to the genetic lottery.At least to a certain extent income and wealth is within your own power.
It is the first step and that's a reflection of America as a land of opportunity. In other parts of the world, having money is not an entrance to the upper class. It simply makes you wealthy.
Because that's the first leg of upperclass for those not in it. You can't establish prestige and power without monetary wealth, without the first one you are just subject to the genetic lottery.At least to a certain extent income and wealth is within your own power.
So what class is the Pope in if he has no personal wealth?
If he retires with a 'pension' of about $3300 /mo does he sink to the level of retiree on a fixed income?
What about a drug dealer or madame who rakes in half a million -or more - a year?
Or a toothless HS dropout who struck it rich in the lottery?
This can get weird.
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