Class+Structure+in+America

"The rich have many other passions to gratify besides those connected with wealth, and moreover, the long and troublesome management of a great fortune sometimes makes them in the end insensible to its charms." (636 de Tocqueville)- Upper class

"As they are still very close to poverty, they see its privations in detail and are afraid of them; The idea of giving up the smallest part of it is insufferable to them, and the thought of losing it completely strikes them as the worst of all evils" (636 de Tocqueville)-Middle class

"It is true that from time to time in democratic societies aspiring and ambitous citizens do arise who are not content to follow the beaten track...They have great difficulty in bringing them about unless extraordinary events play into their hands." (638 de Tocqueville) - Lower Class

"They love change but they are afraid of revolutions." (638 de Tocqueville)

Personal Reflection: I personally believe that we have created a society with three different caste systems with very little movement between them. It is possible for movement, but it is very unlikely. We hope that everyone can achieve greatness, but the rich make sure the rich stay powerful and if they have to shoot down lower classes, then they will. An american dream is to be able to climb the social ladder and it can be done but through only through a lot of hard work.

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