Class Distinctions

Statistics from 2005 stated that in the United states about 15 to 20% are in the poor/lower class, about 30 to 40% are in the working class, about 40 to 50% in the middle class and 1 to 3% in the rich/upper class.  

The following are just one definition of the the class distinctions: 

The Lower Class: 

-poverty, homelessness and unemployment 

-few finished high school 

-"the under class" 

-inaccurately classified as welfare mothers who abuse the system by having more and more babies, welfare fathers who are able to work, but do not, drug abusers, criminals and societal "trash" 

The Working Class: 

-minimally educated 

-"manual labor" 

-blue collar workers: skilled 

-working poor: unskilled workers 

The Middle Class: 

-"sandwich class" 

-White collar workers 

-lower middle class: less educated with lower incomes 

-upper middle class: highly educated with higher incomes 

The Upper Class: 

-The lower-upper class includes those with "new money" or money made from investments, business ventures, etc. 

-The upper-middle class includes those aristocratic and "high society" families with "old money" who have been rich for generations. 

-Both are exceptionally rich and have more money than they could possibly spend. 

-much leisure for cultivating a variety of interests. 

-great influence and power both naturally and globally 

Society is greatly divided and although it is not good to look down (or up) on others. However, we must realize that social classes exist and are vital to our society. They can cause problems, but they can also be helpful.