Political Crossfire Forums

Wealth inequality and social mobility have always and will always be linked. They have an inverse relationship: as wealth inequality goes up, social mobility goes down. The only known way to offset this effect is to invest in great education and in the social safety net. This is why the most socially mobile countries all have strong social safety nets and strong education systems, even if they do have wealth inequality at similar levels.

This is just yet another side effect of an economic system designed to enrich the few.

I'm cool with a permanent underclass, as long as I'm not in it.

Honestly, I think the standard we define the "American Dream" at is what has changed. It used to basically mean that prosperity was possible through hard work. It was never about entitlement.

As we switched to definitions of prosperity tied to consumerism, the American dream became about the trappings, as opposed to the basics of hearth and home and opportunity. Now we need cars and giant TV's and smartphones and crippling consumer debt. If we were to step away from that sort of thing, we'd find basic home ownership, education, and the pursuit of happiness as still very attainable standards.

Just not in the style we've come to demand. In fact, a "humble" lifestyle our grandparents would have considered perfectly smooth sailing would now be a source of shame: "What phone is that?" "What brand are those shoes?" "My german SUV has a third row."

I got a ticket out of the lower class from scholarships and the military. Looking back it was totally doable otherwise. But that was over a decade ago. College is probably 3 times higher now. I think its possible even leaving college aside, but it takes discipline and patience....and family planning! Don't start having kids early on! You'll be f**k! Hell, avoiding college debt might even smooth things out in the near term. Long term its going to burn. Besides, its not as though its "Go to college or work at Burger King." There is still a lot of room for learning a trade and making decent money. Relative of mine is an apprentice electrician...and even as an apprentice he makes a family wage. Once he's through he'll be sitting pretty.

The American Dream is still doable for the lower class. Just not at the same time as iPads, custom rims, and credit cards. Decisions have to be made.