Class in America

The article “Class in America: Shadowy Lines That Still Divide” deals with interesting facts.  Also, some of the statistics are very informative.  For example, the article says, “only 37 members of last year's Forbes 400, a list of the richest Americans, inherited their wealth, down from almost 200 in the mid-1980's.” As the author says, the mobility to other class is the heart of the American dream, but it seems to have “stagnated.” It means, unlike the past, it’s difficult to measure one’s social class seemingly, but the class is still a powerful force in American life.

 I surprised that many Americans believe that they have moved up to higher class from their original class. According to the Times poll, 45 percent of respondents said they were in a higher class than when they grew up. Especially, even though they are not rich now, they are contenting because they are middle class. Also they believe that their son is better off than they are.

I agree that “there are poor and rich in the United States… but as long as one can become the other, as long as there is something close to equality of opportunity, the differences between them do not add up to class barriers.”  The components of class affect one’s opportunities to success. For example, children from the upper class family have a better and more chance of having time to focus on their study, getting in depth quality education, and entering good college than children from lower class family thanks to their financial status. As individuals in the low class have a fewer opportunities of success than someone in upper class, the social class can work as a barrier someone to move to other class.  However, I believe that there are still possibilities to overcome if they persevere in one's efforts.

Finally, I’d like to know more about how many people move to higher class from their original class and how they accomplish their American Dream.