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planets · 11-12-2004, 05:54 AM

Of all three choices given, it seems that the majority would have to go with the one that is the most difficult to define. heh

The point is, Class has to be the foremost determinant of social stratification, for that is what the people in power would have us believe. Given a voting population, what is the largest partition you can draw, subject to the condition of course, that you wish to piss off as little people as possible? If politicians went for the gender vote, they'd risk about 1/2 of the population (not very sure about the demographics but heck it'll be close to 1/2). If they went for race, that's something that is less obviously discriminating than gender, but that has been the cause of the most bitter wars ever to be waged. It is probably more of a taboo to speak of racial distinction in the context of democracy (which was set up to accord rights to the minority, often racial minority) than that say of homosexuality. So politicians play it down, or wisely do not bring it up. Now consider class distinction. I distinguish 6 seperate levels for ease of argument. Upper, upper middle, middle, lower middle, lower and britneylovers. Very few people believe they are in the lower class. In fact, if one did quote sufficient out-of-context irrelevant facts, one could probably make everyone people believe they are in the middle to upper middle class. Which leaves a vacuum in the lower class. The class that everyone secretly looks down upon, or wishes they were not part of does not in fact exist. However that doesn't matter the least, class distinctions are raised and manipulated by politicians to suit their benefits, thus the point of view held by the majority of the population now: Class distinction is the most polarizing of all distinctions. Where we demarcate the distinction however, is entirely up to us. It could be between people who choose Macs' coffee over some gourmet shit, or Britney over Bach... The point is we can draw the distinction, bear a severe prejudice against the person, and still get away with it for that person might have you as his definitive low class dude.

11-12-2004, 05:54 AM	#24 (permalink)
planets Upright	Of all three choices given, it seems that the majority would have to go with the one that is the most difficult to define. heh The point is, Class has to be the foremost determinant of social stratification, for that is what the people in power would have us believe. Given a voting population, what is the largest partition you can draw, subject to the condition of course, that you wish to piss off as little people as possible? If politicians went for the gender vote, they'd risk about 1/2 of the population (not very sure about the demographics but heck it'll be close to 1/2). If they went for race, that's something that is less obviously discriminating than gender, but that has been the cause of the most bitter wars ever to be waged. It is probably more of a taboo to speak of racial distinction in the context of democracy (which was set up to accord rights to the minority, often racial minority) than that say of homosexuality. So politicians play it down, or wisely do not bring it up. Now consider class distinction. I distinguish 6 seperate levels for ease of argument. Upper, upper middle, middle, lower middle, lower and britneylovers. Very few people believe they are in the lower class. In fact, if one did quote sufficient out-of-context irrelevant facts, one could probably make everyone people believe they are in the middle to upper middle class. Which leaves a vacuum in the lower class. The class that everyone secretly looks down upon, or wishes they were not part of does not in fact exist. However that doesn't matter the least, class distinctions are raised and manipulated by politicians to suit their benefits, thus the point of view held by the majority of the population now: Class distinction is the most polarizing of all distinctions. Where we demarcate the distinction however, is entirely up to us. It could be between people who choose Macs' coffee over some gourmet shit, or Britney over Bach... The point is we can draw the distinction, bear a severe prejudice against the person, and still get away with it for that person might have you as his definitive low class dude.