Written by Frank Li
Here are two popular notions in America: “We the People” and “middle class”.
In this post, I argue that they are inherently incompatible with each other, so much that this one must go: “We the People”!
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1. What is “middle class”
Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia – middle class.
The middle class is a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy. Its usage has often been vague whether defined in terms of occupation, income, education or social status. The definition by any author is often chosen for political connotations. Writers on the left favor the lower-status “working class”. Modern social theorists—and especially economists—have defined and re-defined the term “middle class” in order to serve their particular social or political ends.
For more, read: American Middle Class.
2. What is “wrong” with “middle class”
The image below is worth more than 1,000 words.
Simply put, the notion of “middle class” implies the existence of at least two other classes:
- A rich class, which can’t be challenged, because the country was founded by/of/for the rich and remains so today. For more, read: What Is the American Revolution, Anyway?
- A poor class, which fights among themselves for more sub-classes, often via a race war (What Is “White Trash”, Anyway?). It is for this reason, chiefly, that there has always been a bottom class in America, from slavery in the old days to undocumented migrant workers and prisoner labor nowadays. For more, read: Racism in America.
In short, America is a class society, after all, isn’t it?
Now, enter “We the People” …
3. “We the People”
“We the People”, so begins the U.S. Constitution … It referred to everybody, except for the minorities, women, and even white men without [enough] property. As a result, when George Washington was elected the first American President in 1789, only 6% of the American population was eligible to vote (U.S. voting rights timeline).
In other words, America was founded by/of/for the rich, with the voting right limited to the rich only!
Over the past 200 years, America has expanded the voting rights to everybody. Yet, America is failing, badly. Two recent examples:
Why is that?
While discrimination against gender or race was wrong, hugely expanding the voter pool without any discrimination is even worse!
What, then, is the right form of discrimination?
Meritocracy!
America simply does not have a meritocracy system for all (i.e. rich and poor), yet!
Why not?
Two main reasons:
- It’s hard. China is the only country that has it, which works reasonably well for China. For more, read: The U.S. vs. China: Meritocracy.
- America was founded by/of/for the rich, and remains so today – The rich keep controlling the government with [their] money! For more, read: The U.S. vs. China: Election vs. Selection.
More broadly, read: America: It’s Democracy, Stupid!
Now, how could America have evolved into such a democracy in which everybody [age 18 or above] can vote, without any meritocracy?
Blame the big slogan: “We the People”, chiefly!
Two informative readings:
4. Discussion
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the notion of “middle class”! A society should be organized hierarchically, with opportunity and mobility for all, especially the hard-working people!
Something is very wrong with the notion of “We the People”, which originated from “All men are created equal”, which has practically become “all men are equal”, politically, including thugs!
Two informative readings:
In short, “We the People”, also known as “the indistinguishable”, are ruling America now!
For a better America tomorrow, “We the People” and “middle class” cannot co-exist – One of them must go!
Which one?
“We the People”!
5. Closing
America, it’s time to replace “We the People” with a meritocracy system for all!
America, reform our failing political system, as I have suggested (American Democracy – Why is it failing & how to fix it?), or become a fiddle, second to China!
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