1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Class in Modern Society

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by FR7 Baptist, Dec 22, 2011.

  1. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2009
    Messages:
    2,378
    Likes Received:
    1
    I've been thinking a lot about social class lately so I've come up with a social class classification system. I'm going to describe each class, but keep in mind that people don't fit perfectly into neat little boxes. A person of one class might not fit all of the characteristics of that class. Classifying someone is a matter of judgment based on which class he fits into best. So, with that out of the way, here are my class descriptions.

    Low Class
    This class includes people who are poor as a consequence of personal or family disfunction which places them out of mainstream society. Low Class characteristics include having multiple illegitimate children, sexual promiscuity, a ghetto mentality, and felony criminal convictions. Many people on welfare and food stamps are Low Class. The typical Low Class person is a high school dropout with an IQ below 90. I consider alcoholics and users of illicit drugs other than pot to be Low Class. Typically, Low Class people are unable to hold down steady employment and are likely to be criminal. Illegal immigrants are automatically Low Class.

    Working Class
    This class is comprised of people who work in low-paying jobs and are unable or unwilling to save for the future. The typical Working Class person may be marriageable or married and has one or zero illegitimate children. They tend to have IQ scores in the low average range and a high school education. Some Working Class people have less than two years of college or technical or vocational training. May receive welfare or food stamps. Typical Working Class people work blue-collar or service sector jobs.

    Lower Middle Class
    In this class, you find people who earn above the median income. In general, they are married with kids or have the reasonable potential to be. They may have a history of divorce, but are involved in committed relationships. Lower Middle Class people tend to have IQ scores in the high average range and have an A.A. degree or substantive vocational training. These people do not receive government assistance and tend to work skilled blue-collar or low-level (and some mid-level) white-collar jobs.

    Upper Middle Class
    The paramount distinguishing feature of the Upper Middle Class is that the overwhelming majority of its members are college graduates and includes some people with post-graduate degrees. These people tend to live the American dream with a nice house and cars and 2.1 children. May have low six-figure household income. They tend to work in white-collar, professional jobs. In regards to intelligence, they usually have IQs above 115. This class includes most "gifted" people (IQ 130+) once they are settled in a career. However, IQs above 130 have almost no additional predictive value with respect to social class.

    Upper Class
    This class is comprised of people who make over $200,000 per year, hold high levels of influence, or have very high-status jobs. They typically have stable marital relationships, but few kids. Many Upper Class people have post-graduate degrees.
     
  2. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2009
    Messages:
    6,156
    Likes Received:
    78
    I generally agree with your classifications, though I wonder why you left out the marital relationships of the Upper Middle Class and I don't agree that the Upper Class have stable marital relationships. I happened to attend a high school that was made up of mostly Upper Class students, and the rate of divorce amongst them was as high as any of the other classes.
     
  3. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2009
    Messages:
    2,378
    Likes Received:
    1
    My primary point in reference to marital relationships, although I probably could have worded it better, is that higher class people are less likely to sleep around and breed out of wedlock. By stability, I mean that it tends to not be a revolving door of baby mamas/baby daddies.
     
  4. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2009
    Messages:
    6,156
    Likes Received:
    78
    I still have to disagree. I don't think there is any less "sleeping around" with higher class people. I think they just are better equipped at keeping it quiet.

    I do agree that that there are less single mothers (baby mamas) with higher class people. I think that is simply that they have a higher tendency to get married. That doesn't mean their marriages last however.

    I think we could generally say that the lower classes are more likely to never marry, while the upper classes are more likely to marry multiple times.
     
  5. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2009
    Messages:
    2,378
    Likes Received:
    1
    We'll just have to agree to disagree on that. However, I do agree that higher class people are more able to keep it quiet and mitigate the negative consequences of illicit sex when they do "sleep around", in large part because they are more likely to use "protection".

    I can agree with that for the most part. Out of my classification system, which class do you think is most likely to get married and stay married to the same person?
     
  6. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2004
    Messages:
    7,406
    Likes Received:
    101
    For what its worth, this applies to all the classes. Not just "low" class.

    Besides, this is a terrible characterization of one class.
     
  7. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2009
    Messages:
    6,156
    Likes Received:
    78
    Two groups.

    The "Working Class". This group is likely to get married and stay married simply because they are hard working, nose to the grind, no frills type of people. They aren't expecting much more out of life than simply working, relaxing after work (when they have the time), and one day dying.

    The "Upper Middle Class". This group is likely to get married and stay married because they have a lot to lose. The father likes things the way they are and will stick through a rocky marriage simply because he doesn't want things to change. The mother likely doesn't work and is scared what would happen if she had to go about things on her own.


    I didn't pick "Low Class" for the obvious reasons. "Lower Middle Class" are generally attempting to live beyond their means and trying to impress everyone they can. The guys like flashy things and act like big kids. When rocky times come, the woman already has a job and isn't afraid to go at it alone. "Upper Class" simply do whatever they want. Both sides are equally well off in the case of a divorce and it doesn't matter much to them.
     
  8. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2009
    Messages:
    6,156
    Likes Received:
    78
    It may be terrible, but it's accurate.
     
  9. marke

    marke New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2011
    Messages:
    261
    Likes Received:
    0
    I belong to a class of people who, like the followers of David in 1 Sam. 22:2, were "... in distress,... in debt,... and ... discontented...". It is a really great crowd of outcasts, which includes "... not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, (and) not many noble..." (1 Cor. 1:26). The good thing about Christians is that they don't care about what they give up in this life, they understand what the Pearl of Great Price is all about and they have bought into the greatest that the riches of heaven have to offer and it didn't cost them a dime.

    I do think the post highlights a key point about much of poverty in America, however, which all the govt programs in the world are unable to fix since they are clueless about the connection between all types of ungodly sins and habits underlying the conditions of much of poverty.
     
  10. mandym

    mandym New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2011
    Messages:
    4,991
    Likes Received:
    0
    Denigrating people for the purpose of a political agenda is shameful.
     
  11. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2009
    Messages:
    6,156
    Likes Received:
    78
    It's a shame that you can't talk open and honestly about the world around us. Do you just have condescending remarks, or would you like to join the conversation?
     
  12. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    24,988
    Likes Received:
    2,268
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Definition, please?
     
  13. Jason Garrett

    Jason Garrett New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2004
    Messages:
    158
    Likes Received:
    0
    What's the point in even classifying people, especially from the Christian's perspective? Jesus loved all the same and we are called to love according to His example. Classifying people simply separates us from them. Just my opinion.
     
  14. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2009
    Messages:
    6,156
    Likes Received:
    78
    Didn't you just classify people by calling them Christians?
     
  15. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2009
    Messages:
    2,378
    Likes Received:
    1
    That's a sad, pathetic way to live. While I've always worked hard at my job and have a proven track record of success, I have vowed to not live to work. I'm looking forward to my new job which pays a lot more than my old one and is in a professional environment; however, it doesn't define my life. There's so much more to life than work and relaxing after work. For example, arguing about theology and politics, reading good literature, singing in choir, playing bass guitar, songwriting, watching birds, attending church, playing with my young cousins, writing, archery, etc.

    My advice- Work to live; don't live to work.
     
  16. Thousand Hills

    Thousand Hills Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    Messages:
    1,488
    Likes Received:
    6
    Bumping to the top, can't wait for Brother BillWald to chime in. :smilewinkgrin:
     
  17. billwald

    billwald New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2000
    Messages:
    11,414
    Likes Received:
    2
    Your classifications are OK at the lower end. It is a scam to to put the $200K person in the same class as the $200M person. There is a world of difference between them.

    Also, using median income and ignoring mean income is misleading because it ignores the shape of the income curve.
     
  18. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    I write the following as a committed Conservative politically and a committed Christian by the Grace of God.

    If you want to classify people according to income OKAY. However, Your classification of low income people as more prone to: [
    is stupidly arrogant. You need to get out in the real world.

    I would call to your attention certain Scripture:

    James 2:2-6, KJV
    2. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
    3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
    4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
    5. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
    6. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

    1 Corinthians 1:26-29. KJV
    26. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
    27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
    28. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
    29. That no flesh should glory in his presence.

    Revelation 2:9, KJV
    I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.


    As for the morals I would suggest you look at the Hollywood crowd, many if not most professional athletes, politicians [Newt Gingrich,Bill Clinton, Lyndon Johnson, F. D. Roosevelt, Barney Frank and assorted other Senators come to mind.], in fact many of the rich elite. Perhaps you are sufficiently old to recall that wife swapping originated with the yuppies some years ago. The same group introduced cocaine as a recreational drug.

    I was in the coalfields of Kentucky, Virginia during the FDR depression so don't hand out a line of bull about poor people and morals.
     
  19. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    No! They just abort the product of their sleeping around.

    Such arrogance on a Christian Forum is disturbing!
     
  20. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    An arrogant yuppie attitude, certainly not a Christian attitude. So enjoy your

    Your attitude reminds me of the following Scripture:

    Luke 12:16-21, KJV
    16. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
    17. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
    18. And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
    19. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
    20. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:
    then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
    21. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
     
Loading...