Do you think your country has a "class structure"? What do you think about it?

And its this kind of talk that annoys me, as it is far to close to that 99% bullshit.

 

You don't think there is a top 1%? What does that make the other.. um...remaining what percentages then??

 

I'm sure we do. Then again, I don't go for to many "its all rigged" conspiracy theories. Just reeks of yet more excuses.

 

So, you are implying that democracy still works in America? The ones manipulating elections really are rich, old, mean-spirited white men like the Koch brothers and Rupert Murdock.

 

My problem isn't with the math. My issue is with the arrogance of any organization or movement pretending they represent or speak for 99% of this nation.

 

To an extent yes, I believe it does. However, when looking for someone to blame I believe the average American need only look in a mirror. It's far too easy and weak to blame some rich boogeyman.

 

And I don't agree with those people. I have expressed my concerns about the OWS crowd and how they're being manipulated, too. But it is true that it really is the 1% (actually it is much less than that) that literally control the world.

 

Oh yes... the lovely Koch brothers....

well, sig, you can think what you want of OWS but at least somebody is/was/whatever trying to do something about the ultra rich. I mean.. you may not think anything needs to be done but, well, for example, why hasn't anyone gone to jail involved in the financial crash when they committed crimes? (I shouldn't say "anyone"- any of the top people who screwed everyone else). OWS may be misguided or ..should I say...leaving out issues- but then... anyone else is welcome to do something better. I'd love to see that.<and I don't mean that sarcastically like no one CAN do better. I mean something else that goes deeper and actually accomplishes something more should be done)

 

"Do something about the ultra rich". Don't you see the danger in that, AT?

 

Yeah... if you take it as me meaning every rich person or that no one should be allowed to make money.

But the system is rigged. And the criminals involved SHOULD be prosecuted.

(my son just woke up from his nap so I gtg get him and then gonna go buy that daft punk album and some food so ill come back and check this thread again later when he goes to sleep. look forward to reading other viewpoints, even if they are different from mine!)

 

(Responding to Sig #28) Yes, that's true, but who is responsible for the poor public education they got; how they don't know anything about how our government is supposed to work; how their voting districts have been gerrymandered in such a way that election results are a foregone conclusion; how they are subjected to a mind-numbing barrage of misleading ads from anonymous sources that often turn out to be rich, old, mean-spirited white men?

 

I'm not entirely clear what you mean. By class, I dont mean "qualities", I mean rigidly defined groups. Like a pyramid, but with small groups enjoying huge benefits beyond their contribution or merits. eg people who have inherited vast wealth for generations and precluded others from being able to contribute or develop themselves.

You say you're from a poor background. Surely you aren't suggesting a country should be more rigid, and prevent movement between groups on merit?

You're probably best ignoring any Conservatrolls in this thread!

This was actually one of the things that made me post this thread.
It used to be said "go to the best college u can, use Federal and Stafford loans etc, its your biggest investment in life".

Now the college guides say "college is like buying a car, sometimes u cant afford an expensive one, so dont buy the expensive one".

To me, this is turning America into something like India or Britain and its Eton nonsense..

But while the leaders are coming from very, very, VERY small sections of a country, they will be treating their citizens with contempt.
As you yourself say, the cabals are a form of class structure. Just because its not "working, middle and upper", it doesnt mean that class is irrelevant.

ps I'm not gonna release my sources, but I think the political system in England is pretty much a sham, in many ways. So somehow I doubt the American system is some paragon of virtue..

 

Conservatrolls? Still trying to fit everyone into your narrow world view, despite all the evidence to the contrary? How very.....well....conservative of you.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: I am not, nor have I ever been, a conservative. So, please, enough with your trolling.

 

All the evidence supports me talking sense. And you are talking complete and utter garbage. No offence...
Obviously. : )

PS A fan of Margaret Thatcher, and you aren't a Conservative?
Yeah right...

*clicks ignore*

 

The Koch Bros?

More like the Rothschilds, the Rockefellers, the Windsors, etc.

 

Then it seems you haven't been actually reading anything I've posted.

I also admire Tony Blair, along with many liberal politicians and thinkers

Ignoring someone who dares disagree? Coward.

 

Oh I'm sorry, does refusing to read your posts offend your ego now? Boohoohoo
Maybe if u spoke some sense, rather than trolled (especially about countries that in fairness you know nothing about), I might read what u had to say. But until then...

PS Tony Blair.. liberal? WTF..

 

Yeah.. was just responding to someone's comment on the Koch brothers..
They're obviously not as bad but I don't like them either.


and well, not gonna respond any further because this thread went downhill...

 

I knew about the "class structure" before uni. But really saw it during.

There were very few kids from state schools in my class. And if they were, it generally from very rich areas down South. Most were private school, rich families. There werent many working class ones at all.The nearest were often kids who'd got scholarships to private schools.

Some were ok, normal people. But some of them, I found their (lack of) values disgusting.
They'd got there because their schools were good, not because they were smart.
And they seemed to have contempt for the idea of competition, amd tried to delude everyone that kids from State schools didnt tend to be smart.

In work, I've come across more and more of this sort of dickhead. And I feel more and more like avoiding them. I actually feel more comfortable working with foreigners who are outside the "class structure". Or people who went to State schools/ normal backgrounds. Sometimes with "toffs"(thats ones from expensive private schools) and work I say "I dont want to deal with this one" and I'll get someone else to.

Even one or two private school people who I was friends with, I now think "what the fuck"
and dont bother with them or their offensive views. I mean a black guy wouldnt be friends with a white person who owned a bar which said "no niggers" on the door. Whats the difference?

In England, you could be a selfmade billionaire, and still not part of the "club". To me, thats the essence of a class system.

 

The cock brothers....:smilielol5:say it again.