What qualifies a person to be part of the underclass?

Question

Please don't say Bush supporters

43, Nothing to do with my question, on first observation anyway, but did I laugh. People came running out of their offices. There is a first time for anything.

Answer 1

The "underclass" is a non-specific term. It's used by people and organizations with an axe to grind regarding government welfare payments (i.e., the people / organizations want that money funneled through THEIR hands first so that they can HELP the people - after they get paid FIRST, of course!).

Answer 2

First of all, I really appreciate this question. I, too, have been pondering the idea of 'social classes' since it appeared recently on Oprah. Best I could make of it is this: those who have money (whether or not they behave decently) are 'upper class,' while those who don't have money (however, they may act very maturely and have a strong sense of dignity) are considered 'under class.' Doesn't make sense to me!

Answer 3

Being actively oppressed by their current government, economic system and culture to such an extent that their quality of life is poor and they are disempowered from doing anything about it. I think disempowerment is a major aspect of being in the underclass.

Answer 4

The homeless and those making less than 10,000 a year. Usually blue collar workers and manual laborers often called the "Working class". They live pay check to pay check and do not make enough money to save any.

Answer 5

I'd say anyone who doesn't pay more in taxes than they receive in social services, and doesn't seem able or willing to change this in the future.

They also have to agree with the mainstream view that nothing more is expected of them, than this.

Answer 6

Isn't that in till you get the American dream ,of a house, a car and 2.5 kids?

Answer 7

Well if noone claims to be that, then there is none. Right?
Classifying and generalizing and labeling people is wrong, so why let others do it to you?

Answer 8

Creating incentives to make it attractive to make companies want to extended better benefits packages
for their employees,which is almost exclusively Democrat.

Answer 9

a chip on your shoulder and a decent lawyer/interst group

Answer 10

people who do nothing to progress in life and expect handout when they have done nothing to earn it