why is there an assumption that America has less of a class system than other countries?

Question

I think it's ridiculous that people say here in America there isn't a class sytem and that countries like England and Germany have a large class system. Just look at the way America is: Upper middle-class kids nice neighborhoos nice schools, poor area not to far from there with bad neighborhoods run down-schools and poverty. The rich kids only hanging out with rich kids and looking down on everyone else, while they and there parents drive luxury cars and live in a luxurious house while poor kids have to struggle to get by to eat. America is extremely class-ridden and ruled by the ignorant and the greedy!

Answer 1

because it's more subtle

Answer 2

It is not a question of class. It is culture we are actually talking about. America doesn't have a set culture acquired over the ages. America is an aggregate of various cultures so a definite system has evolved which is as per the book only. Like in India the class system was made to accomodate social life. There had to be a king, a priest, a warrior, the farmer the cleaning person for all to co-exist, and co-depend. It is the social system and not an aggregation of classes. The class differences are made prominent only by politicians who are trying to gain power. I don't think the majority of the so called lower classes object much until they become greedy for favours at the behest of the politician.

Answer 3

Americans have been instilled with propaganda that there is extreme class mobility in their nation -- ie, the "American Dream." Unfortunately, most later find out this entire concept was a shame. Most people are born into their social class, and stay there. It's meant to keep the proletarians in line -- after all it says there's only one way, and that is up. Seriously, when you were stories of social mobility, how often is it you hear of someone born into a wealthy family losing it all? Not very. On the other hand, you hear all these stories of rags-to-riches. These stories are common, the actual events are not.

Answer 4

In America, we like to believe our system is a "meritocracy". A meritocracy is a place that is ruled by those who have the the most merit. That is to say, those who are the most intelligent and skilled are the ones in charge. And it doesn't matter if a person is born into a ghetto or even into a homeless family, if they're smart and skilled (if they have "merit") then they'll make it. They could be the president of the Unitd States if they tried hard enough.

All of this is a lie, of course, but it's a very functional one. You see, rich kids grow up in a hyper-compeditive environment. They aren't taught to be good at things, they're taught to be better than others at things. This leads to the production of an American upper-class that never stops working. They work evenings and weekends and when they take vacations they take "working vacations." These rich people are taught that their wealth is the result of their hard work, so they never have to feel guilty that so many Americans are going to bed hungry (because the poor people are really just lazy).

Now, down at the other end of the scale we have those who are poor. On average, those who are what we call "lower class" work far longer hours and work more dangerous and boring jobs than those in the middle or upper classes. Like the rich people, they truly believe that if they work hard they will make it. People in such conditions really have no hope, and so the myth of the meritocracy (the myth that if you work hard you'll make it) is very attractive to them.

So in America we have this assumption that our classes aren't really classes because a person can choose to be rich or poor, depending on how hard they choose to work. This is at the heart of why people assume that there is no class system in the U.S. Both rich and poor like to believe that everyone is paid according to how hard they work.

This is a lie, but it keeps the rich from feeling guilty, the poor from feeling exploited, and everyone exhausted from working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Say- don't you have some homework you need to be doing? ;-)

Answer 5

You are a bit misguided in thinking that America has a class system. A century ago, wealth people drove cars while poor people walked. Now rich people drive porches and poor people drive second hand honda civics. A century ago, rich people went on vacation to escape the cold, poor people froze. Now nearly everyone has central heating. A century ago, rich people lived to be 60, while poor people only lived to be 45. Now rich people live to be 80, while poor people live to be 76. 80% of millionares are selfmade in this country. This is all thanks to technological capitalism. I don't know who you heard say that somehow western Europe has a larger class system than America, because it is not to much different. India is another story.

Also, if it is equality you are concerned about, make sure you know what you are talking about. America was founded on equality of RIGHTS. Life, Liberty, and the PURSUIT of Happiness. Equality of OUTCOMES is something made up by FDR (and other socialist thinkers before him) with his so called "economic bill of rights" which is in no way the law of the land.

Answer 6

It changed into respectable on Jan 20, 2009 and the electorate will supply their on the job performance evaluation on Nov 2, 2010. really, when you consider that i don't believe this guy is an American citizen, he's not president in any respect...he's the nicely acceptable usurper that has ever been contained in the Oval place of work, and thanks to the knowledge of the founding fathers, he will be removed from place of work.

Answer 7

Because the class system that does exist is completely mobile; if you work hard enough you can rise; if you screw up enough you can fall. It's all on you, where most countries' caste systems depend on if you are "highborn" or "lowborn", or marry into a higher or lower caste.

Answer 8

The American Dream, the streets paved in gold, we all believe such stupid things, eh?