Head of the Class?
"...well we carry each
other, carry each other, one" --U2
The Swedish claim to have no class
system in their country, their socialist government allowing no one to
be better than anyone else. America, the quintessential democracy
based on opporunity, prides itself on its citizens' ability to move up
as high in the class structure as they want to. Both systems have
their flaws, and both are not as opportune or equal as the travel brochures
make them out to be.
America's many problems stem in
part from its rigid class structure. It is very difficult to break
free of poverty and to move up to the middle class, which falls roughly
between the $15,000 and $100,000 gross income bracket. The lower
class in America's society continually face problems with getting jobs
and fighting with the government over welfare and child care.
In Sweden, there is a continually
increasing line being drawn between the rich and to poor. As one
Swede stated, "it is becoming increasingly difficult for a working family
to work its way up." I think this statement holds true for both America
and Sweden from what I have discussed in the web forums. Both countries
are suffering from a control of the country by a small minority of people.
The problem is how to fix this problem so that the majority of the citizens
do have more control. Getting out to vote is perhaps the most important
right and voice that the common middle or lower class citizen has.
This is a right that we Americans take for granted sometimes.
Classes have existed in all
societies throughout history, however. From the Romans to the Mayans
to modern day countries, there has always existed a separation in status
by wealth. We humans tend to like to categorize things and class
is definitely not an exception. The problem persists, though, on
whether or not we should try and decrease the gap between the classes or
to just let it go as it has been as far as man can remember.
Back|Forward