Is it necessary to have an "underclass" in order for the world to operate?
596373
I don't think you need an underclass for society to operate. A country like Sweden for example provides a reasonable level of education for all it's citizens. They as a result don't have much of an underclass and they are very prosperous.\n\nIt's obvious there are people with a vested interest in maintaining and underclass to provide cheap labor.\n\nThey have a lot of people fooled.
691013
Absolutely. Look at the segregation of class, first of all, then break it down again. I firmly believe that the people in power gain a lot by keeping segregation viable. When you have first class distinctions, then the poorer people feel bad about themselves, what they can or better yet can not provide for their families. Next they can not afford decent health care or schooling. This further segregates the people. Next you have race segregation in different neighborhoods. Not much has really changed in this area at all. a black family while having legal rights, will still be set apart from their white or Hispanic neighbors. The same holds true for a white family in a Barrio or predominately Black neighborhood. This keeps people from building each other up. When we are all kept down and separate, we don't have the strength or the resources to fight the power of the oppressors.
604309
It practically is already. The existence of an underground labor force insures an underclass of victims and is contradictory to the doctrine of assimilation designed to integrate them into the workforce. See today's Washington Post Link.
362608
It depends if you're a giver or a taker, if you have everything and give nothing in return like those nasty little rich bitches, then yes you're over privileged. I live in a bad area but the people are basically kind and willing to help their neighbours, I think we're the privileged ones.\n\nJust remember, you're going to reap what you sow.
898034
No.  People have differing priorities, and differing work ethics.  Some work very hard to become educated, and then work very hard at their jobs.  They earn their higher standard of living.  Others choose not to pursue education at all,  but work extremely hard to compensate, and still do well.  Others choose to focus on having children, whether or not they can support them.  Some don't work at all.\n\nIn the USA, lifestyle is very much about choices people make in their lives.  Not everyone has the same range of choices, but it is still very possible to go from rags to riches, or at least comfort and security, purely because one works hard.  \n\nThere are far too many people ready and willing to simply exist, and let others do all the work.  They are already an unfair burden to society; your proposal would guarantee their numbers would increase dramatically.  Additionally, with no hope of reward, the inventive, pioneering, adventurous spirit of so many Americans, encouraged by our current society, would be suppressed, and oppressed, in yours.\n\nI'm not advocating money as God, or capitalism over democracy.  Socialism does have it's place, in certain applications.  A equal-for-everyone health care system, for instance, or a flat tax for all Americans over the poverty level, no exceptions, would do much to solve some of the problems we face today.  Extending it to an entire social system is doomed to failure, however, for the very simple reason that all people are not created equal when it comes to their willingness to work.  Those who won't do not merit the rewards of those who will.
153302
yes,why not ? \nall u mention are nations that have lot of people who have smart brain and guts.and money can easily find with that 2 resources.so the only matter just time and conscious to manage and channel their resource better .
668809
you already are you just don't know it .the ruling class of the world has many people in many nations including canada so as much as they can profit from frenidly governments  and cheap labor is as much help as the people get. A basic infrastructure and education is needed to provide business with a stable and functioning labor pool to draw from . A basic rule of thumb is how much do i have to give workers in-order to recieve maximum return on my original investment. medicine is the first tool to arrive as saving there children seems to make them more greatfull and willing to be lead by corprate greed. so in a sense we you and me are all helping the world  become a better place to live in, slowly.all these bleeding heart liberals saving the world are paving the way for corprate take over no country we have helped has not been exploted for natural resources animal vegtible or mineral it all comes down to greed if you give a little you can get alot in return. Give all you want it always comes back to you .notice tax dollars pave the way for corporations in america and a new imaggrant labor pool is always ready to assume the lowest paying jobs so people who have taken advantage of the education and better living standards can move up the ladder never really able to reach the top in large numbers only so-many cheifs needed and lots of indians pardon my analogy no malice twords minoitys meant .
644543
Well at the beginning of history...we hunted and worked the land...you were either self sufficient or you died. Now there are people that have wealth and those that do not. This has nothing to do with how self sufficient you are, but more with your ability to make money. There are class systems in place "virtually" all over the world and in America there is everyday a greater separation of the classes...So poverty is undoubtedly a man made thing. And to Kartingmartin...above, I know loads of people that have been forced into poverty due to our ever weakening economy. Lots of people laid off and forced out of their homes who would disagree with you!!
879931
that's the plan with education... break it down, say it has to be privatized to work... \n\nthen you get a fantastic system like the current health care system where only hundreds of thousands won't recieve an education... and those will basically become the slave laborers... low, low pay for maximized profit... basically an end to the middle class...\n\nof course, that will set up the prime ingredients for a revolution...
902113
Absolutely and inequitably yes.  History continues to prove this, even when were were less people on the earth; the more people, the more demand for land, resources, power, etc.  There will always be war, unless we had one all powerful world dictatorship type of government, and even then civil wars would inevitably break out to reinstate liberties and freedoms suppressed by the Glorious Leader of the one government, and one subscribed way of thinking.
328063
While the theory of Communism offered workers a chance for equality, the reality is that the class system still existed and there was little or no chance to bridge that gap.  The industrial revolution, a capitalistic event, also created the opportunity for that "large, impoverished and powerless working class" to rise above their means and create a better life for themselves based upon their effort and ability.  This opportunity does not exist in a communist state.  If you are born into a lower class family, you will die in that same class.  In a capitalist society, you have the ability and opportunity to be as successful or impoverished as you like.  Work hard and reap your just rewards or lie back and live off the gov't teet.  You decide.
483074
there are two issues...spending monies so friends in the military support systems recieve it and the fact that all civilizations have class systems designed to have a steep downhill slope.the industry that helps the poor once they are reduced to crime,depression,the requiring of assistance is not much different than the military...just a different face.there will always be poor.
644662
ah, the utopian question.  in a society in which money doesnt exist, presumably everyone would do what they are best at/enjoy the most, and they would help each other out when they needed.  of course, most humans (and I would venture its close to ALL humans) are greedy, and the strive for money dominates their lives.  thus, the importance of a job is to be able to provide for yourself and your family in a flawed system where the dollar is the real god.
946625
Not if they keep taxing the rich and feeding the poor, 'til there are no rich no more. You need money to become a superpower. In other words with all the socialism going on and stifling the free market, they aren't likely to become a 'super power'.
1115779
So much depends upon social class.  Theirs and yours.
851734
I'm not sure that it is. In China wages are so low that people have to work long hours just to survive. In Japan big companies have traditionally  had a master/serf relationship with their employees. In the UK we expect decent wages and decent work conditions so that we can have a life outside work.\nDo you really think this is unreasonable of us?
156422
Yes, for people to be considered wealthy there must be people poorer than them or we would all be equal which would redefine wealthy.