Wealth Privileges

In class, the message of class and the growing schisms between them was truly enforced. If I had to come away with anything this week it would be that the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor, and it is nearly impossible to make a change to the pattern. While playing Monopoly, I was the richest of the rich; I had a great time in the game because there was really no way for me to lose. Even when I did lose half my money I was still a longshot from losing much of anything compared to my lower income counterparts. I realize now how big of a difference money really makes in life. As a wealthy person of higher class, there is little to nothing to stop you from whatever you want. We could go on and on about the advantages wealth gives the individual in all aspects of life. Clearly the wealthy have a literal monopoly over the amount of money held by Americans. They have strong political presence and educational services, not to mention the connections and networking that further advances their advantages over the rest of the nation. It is ironic that the people with the most do the least amount of work. The wealthy can afford to pay others to do the work that allows them to stay afloat in their ridiculously vast comfort zone. The privileges granted to the wealthy have become norms for the rest of society. Knowing it to be strongly improbable, fewer and fewer people of lower classes can see how there is a chance at the same kind of prosperity for them. The prided American promise that hard work will get you where you want to go is not necessarily the truth at all.

Class

I think that Shaw's quote is very true because our actions our viewed and defined by the people around us as good or bad. A good conscience and quality character will allow the individual to distinguish between right and wrong; however, how society classifies the action may not necesarily agree with the person's intent. Depending on class, certain actions are either praised or condemned. I think Shaw is trying to explain the fact that good and bad have different meanings amongst the different classes. For example, while some in working class are able to fix their own cars and earn respect for having that talent. However, a rich person may look down at that person and say that they can pay for someone else to do it so why do it themselves. This distinction between what is accepted and respected changes as you take a look through the spectrum of social classes. Shaw was right in saying that it all depends on circumstances.