It’s a Class War

The United Kingdom is made up of many classes; low classes, middle classes and upper classes. Within each there are many other classes of people living up to the many social sterotypes from house husband to socialite to middle manager to chief executive. Which class(es) are you in?

Which is the best class?

This is a loaded question as each class seems to quietly despise another. The best class must surely be the one that does the most good for the world.

The lowest classes are the long-term unemployed with no interest in earning a living or doing anything for those people around them. Middle class are those people working in jobs day in day out and who have the biggest influence over consumer spending. The upper classes are the business leaders demanding respect and often getting it.

The answer here for many will depend on the class you are in and how comfortable you are in your life now, however comfort brings complacency.

The lower classes cause the majority of small crimes, start arguments and cause emotional heartache and financial hardship for others. This comes down to the anger burning within them and frustration with the world around them, often due to lack of education or lack of opportunity.

The upper classes have the most influence over corporate and government policy and with their influence, intellect, and income they are in a priviliged position, and like the lower classes, they are often driven to getting their own way.

The middle classes make up the vast majority of people and as such they contribute the most which gives them the most power over product pricing and consequently over the economy. Product pricing of course effects profit margins and employee income/benefits and the economy overall. With a “something for nothing” culture prevalent in western society, especially on the internet, I wonder what the future holds for the economy.

I believe the lower-middle classes are the worst kind of people because they are comfortable and the least passionate about making things better. Of course there are exceptions in this class such as my sister who did a sponsored fun run for cancer research. Doing a fun run has no real effect on the world at large though I believe they do help small numbers of people and my sister did train hard to make it a success and she made a valued contribution.

The majority of this massive majority, the middle classes with a “job - children – retire” life plan, of the populace fear change and often do nothing but complain about and contribute to the things people hate about our culture and the public services provided.

Have you heard heard the line “you don’t have to be mad to work here, but it helps”? I believe there is some truth in that joke, why else would a person keep doing something they dislike? Why keep doing the same thing over and over again if you dislike it? Is that mad?!!

Penny for your thoughts?

This is an old phrase, another is “…my two cents…”. Even though the currency is different, the value is much the same. If your thoughts are worth so little, why bother saying them? With inflation considered, maybe we should change penny/cents to pound/dollars! Of course some peoples thoughts are paid for and with good reason; professional public speakers and business trainers for example because they bring value with their ideas.

Typically the middle class, the mediocrity, have thoughts revolving around the actions of another more inspired and passionate individual. Rarely are any of these thoughts and debates acted upon because they are against the mediocre, comfortable, way of living and such actions would necessitate such anathema as change.

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I did pose the question above “which class is the best”, but first another contender for the worst. It’s hard to define this class as they are successful, they have a lot of money and they command influence, however many of them are no better than the average Joe. I refer to the 20th century phenomenon that with media became celebrity. Both the media and the public listen to celebrities, and therefore so does government. They are now the people who command the real armies of the world (the mediocrity).

Celebrities are the people who can effect real change. They are the only people in fact because they have the talent to amaze, the popularity to command, money to invest… and many spend their free time getting drunk, shopping, discussing who’s with who, and displaying pointless vacuous opinion like the mediocrity. There are of course exceptions such as David Beckham, he has not made a huge difference but some children do more physical (football) activity which is a good and positive difference.

So the best class is…… almost extinct. Sad but it seems to be true. Those that once had the money, the influence, integrity and the passion for change that brought the massive corporations that we know today. Such people commanded respect and were admired by all, but now they have all but disappeared. Such people prefer to spend £2/$4 on writing a really great inspired letter to their customers, clients or associates and signing it by hand rather than sending out a thousand form letters that often aren’t worth the photocopy paper they are printed on.

While this entry was not inspired by a news report of any kind, it has transpired that a report was released proving the British obsession with class; the BBC report: “Britain’s digital tribes revealed“.