Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 27 replies, 28 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 1 month ago by
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I see two forces at work in this question. One is the capitialistic ethic that is a powerful component of our society. Success is measured by what you can accumulate and what you can consume. The second is the emphasis on the importance of the individual vs. the good of the group or community. I do not believe every rich person achieved his or her wealth through individual effort. I do feel these forces shape our world and determine who is successful, powerful, deserving. The reality is we could choose a different world view that would seek to lessen the economic differences between classes and reward the efforts of buliding community vs. the individual.
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Name : Jim-H, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Methodist, Age : 50, City : Waunakee, State : WI, Country : United States, Occupation : Director of Radiology Department, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,This is an over-generalization. I believe that among other qualities, self-respect, apparent education, work ethic and humility are what afford people better treatment, not just bank accounts. I know a wealthy, “upper class” 44-year-old man who is not respected by his peers and can only “purchase” his status. I don’t believe he gets a “bye” on much in life. I also know a 23-year-old black woman who lives in subsidized housing who is far more respected than many wealthy people. She constantly proves herself when she speaks intelligently, works very hard, saves money and discusses current events. She also doesn’t constantly complain about her own situation, but works to change it. While not wealthy, by any standard, she certainly doesn’t suffer.
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Name : Lawrence26104, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 44, City : Philaelphia, State : PA, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,Finances are among the highest priorities for all people, rich to poor. This is true if only because money is the means to achieve so many of the other ends that are important to us, from building a new home to helping others to taking a needed vacation. People with resources are in a much greater position to help other people financially, both directly and through their connections. Accordingly, people tend to treat people with more courtesy if they know the person is in a position to help them achieve their objectives. Think about it: would you be quicker to do a big favor for your destitute brother-in-law or for Bill Gates?
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Name : Morpheus, City : New York, State : NY, Country : United States,People of ‘higher class’ are not always treated better. I’ve got a job and have never stolen anything in my life, but because I’m a teenager, store clerks automatically look like they need to bolt things down to the counter with a nail gun when I walk in the door. They make assumptions based on statistics and rumors about what ‘type’ of person is more likely to do what. Yes, poor people commit more crimes because they’re generally in more desperate situations, plus people like to suck up to rich people more because they think the rich people can help them.
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Name : Ashley23501, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 17, City : Pasco, State : WA, Country : United States, Social class : Upper middle class,Believe it or not, the rich have their own set of problems associated with the accumulation of wealth, such as who to trust and whether a competitor is willing to kill you to advance their own fortune. Also, money is not the greatest marker of a successful life. People all over the world have different views on this subject but I believe success is better measured by the company you keep. If you have good friends and family that love you, you are truly blessed, no matter how much you make.
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Name : Bruce S, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Raised Catholic, currently Undecided, Age : 38, City : Columbus, State : OH, Country : United States, Occupation : Customer Service, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,If you stay at the Hilton, you will be treated like you just spent $300 to stay there. If you pay to stay at Motel 6, you will be treated like you spent $49 to stay there. The better treatment you speak of comes from those who make money from those who ‘have plenty of money.”
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Name : Alex29028, City : Seattle, State : WA, Country : United States,Why does it seem that way to you? And, more importantly, who is doing the ‘treating’ in your observations? I don’t see great differences in how people are treated. The difference is in who people tend to spend time with. The wealthy do things that aren’t available to me because I cannot afford them. So I’m not the choice in people to spend time with at the yacht club. On the other hand, the wealthy might prefer being at their yacht club to being in my humble dining room playing pinochle. In my day-to-day work circles, successful people are treated with a different sort of respect from others. In business, success often depends on establishing and maintaining relationships with successful people – and potential clients and customers. This is hardly ‘almost every aspect,’ though. I don’t see that differentiation at, say, the churches I attend. In fact, in most situations, it would be difficult or impossible to even tell the wealthy from the rest.
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Name : Pete, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 43, City : Livonia, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Various, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,The United States has a long tradition of being openly (and unapologetically) Capitalistic. As such, it is not very surprising that captial (money) and those who control the capital (the rich) are held in high esteem. This is in much the same way as, in a monarchy, someone with ‘royal blood’ would be valued regardless of their actual value to society or personal characteristics.
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Name : Nathan20117, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 24, City : Gaylord, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Educator/Non-Profit, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,We live in a capitalist society, Everyone, whether it be for profit, non-profit or personal gain, wants money. The more money you have, the better you will be treated. The reason some people treat lower-class people worse is they are a drain on society, a mooch. I wish as much as I think you wish that we could all treat each other equally. We live in a Christian-dominated society that doesn’t treat each other very Christian-like. But this is the reality of our society.
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Name : Mollie24663, Gender : F, Age : 26, City : Divine, State : KS, Country : United States,Unfortunately, I think it happens in most of the countries, if not all of them. Money means power, especially in the capitalist society. So, the more money you have the more powerful you are. The more powerful you are, the more people feel the need and will to respect you, because they are afraid of you or ‘just in case they need you someday’…if you have money, ‘you can do and have everything’: buy people, go to nice restaurants, etc.
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Name : Cristina, Gender : F, Race : Asian, Age : 29, City : Sao Paulo, State : NA, Country : Brazil, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,I have seen both having money and not having money. There are definate stresses among both. It seems, unfortunately, that people with little money couldn’t buy themselves out of trouble if they wanted. Rich people are generally better looking because they have had better looking, or atleast better dressed, parents whom have given them all the healthy alternatives not available to poor. (insurance, better quality foods, better health maintainance, better schooling) They are then more likely to get the better jobs. The cycle may continue from there.
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Name : Dean, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 40, City : Howell, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : artist, Social class : Lower middle class,Because in the United States, nearly everything is driven by the free market – health care, housing, food, clothing, and every kind of luxury. Therefore, the more money you have in a free market, the better service/treatment you will get, whether from doctors, real estate agents, lawyers, store clerks, etc. Because the one’s that give the best service typically are paid the highest, and only upper income people can afford to go to places that pay the highest salaries.
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Name : Shane28783, City : Spring City, State : PA, Country : United States,
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