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Money & Economy Notify me of new comments Author Thread: NYT special report: class matters Pundit NYT special report: class matters Posted: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 1:38 PM (PST) This is an important glimpse into some of the many ways aristocracy has invaded this country. The ability to get super rich from being super smart, clever, hard working, crafty, or cunning... is the American dream. Being super rich by birthright... because you were born into a royal family... never having to earn anything... never producing anything... consuming and exploiting the country and its people... that is the antithesis of the American dream.   http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/class/index.html   Comments: Flat Nested Threaded Embedded Oldest First Newest First Author Thread: ? NYT special report: class matters Posted: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 2:20 PM (PST) Wow...being born rich means you are "exploiting the country?" Sounds pretty extreme.   When does the revolution start, comrade? ? NYT special report: class matters Posted: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 2:25 PM (PST) Too bad you couldn't be bothered to actually follow the link... or educate yourself before commenting. Being born rich is a wonderful gift. Parents strive to give that gift to the children. Perhaps you could highlight the exact words that you thought implied otherwise. Pundit NYT special report: class matters Posted: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 2:37 PM (PST) Choosing ignorance is an American freedom. Being stupid is a basic right. Voicing one's opinion is a protected right... put it all together and being a stupid, ignorant, opinionated loud mouth is not a cherished American goal. But it is certainly the right of any American.   Being rich does not mean lazy. Being rich does not mean exploitive. Being rich does not mean unintelligent.   Some rich people may be lazy, dim, exploitive, arrogant, children who inherited wealth from smart, hard working people who came before them. And that is not a crime. But last I checked, that was not the American dream.   Or maybe it is... have you bought a lotto ticket recently? databind() NYT special report: class matters Posted: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 2:59 PM (PST) Hey, at least they're paying proportionately more taxes, right?   ;) Pundit NYT special report: class matters Posted: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 3:05 PM (PST)  yeah, sure... http://moralpolitics.org/community/Discuss/Money/333.aspx Pundit NYT special report: class matters Posted: Thursday, June 23, 2005 12:55 PM (PST) Here is another peek at class in America.   http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050623/a_class_act.php    Forbes classifies Philip Anschutz—net worth of $5.2 billion—as “self made,” not as an inheritor.  But Mr. Anschutz inherited an oil and gas field worth $500 million.  Regardless of how much sweat and toil he may have contributed to his enterprise, he is hardly a rags-to-riches story.   The premise of a meritocracy is that people earn and get what they deserve, based on their effort, drive and intelligence.  But if a society advertises itself as such, and, in practice, allocates success based on hereditary advantage, how are those who are not winners supposed to respond?