I mentioned a while ago in a blog that I think there is a definite class system in the United States. Depending on who you talk to, there are varying number of "classes" within our country. The number doesn't matter so much as the fact that it is hard to move up in the class system. It is relatively easy to move down, yet moving up is always a struggle for people. But I don't necessarily want to talk about the class system again today. I simply wanted to bring that up as part of an intro. Coinciding with the class system is people's perception of those within the different classes. I am sure that almost everyone who is reading this is familiar with the Occupy Movement which in large part has fizzled out due to lack of direction and purpose. Part of the Occupy mantra was differentiating between the 99% and the 1% in the United States. While I think it is almost impossible to infiltrate, if you will, the top 1%, I have a problem with how the differentiating process characterizes, or at least seems to, those who have too much money. People essentially take those in the 1% and cast them as greedy, over zealous, elite individuals who are not in touch with the reality of the 99%. This is probably true in part due to the amount of money they have and the lack of financial issues that they have to deal with, however, if we take away the dollar sign from the labeling of the 1% and simply look at them as people, we will find a whole different picture awaiting us. Our society, for those who live in seclusion, is largely driven by money, those who have a lot, and those who don't. People draw different conclusions about the people who are associated either with a lot of money or a little. There seems to be a general consensus that those with excessive amounts of money are stuck up, removed from society, and don't want to associate with those individuals who have very little. On the flip side, we also view those who have very little as worthless, having a lack of drive, and overall destitute. While there is some grain of truth to those perceptions, to take it as indicative of the whole would be like taking a pinch of sand from the beach, putting it in your hand, and calling that pinch of sand the whole beach; it just flies in the face of reality.
As a contractor, I have the somewhat unique ability to travel between the classes, not so much as move between them, but rather pay visits to different classes. I have worked for those with way too much money and also for those with a lot less. Unfortunately, I have never worked for those with very little as they can not afford my work, but I have volunteered and helped out with community outreach campaigns to help those in need. So having dealt with people from all walks of life, from those who own private islands to those who live on the streets, I can honestly say that there is not that much difference between anyone (except for money and possessions). The impression that anyone with a lot of money is stuck up is flat out wrong. There are those in the upper class who want nothing to do with people who make less than them, do not travel in their circle, and do not drive a Mercedes; however those do not represent everyone who has money. I have run into many more people with money who are down to earth, friendly, and willing to have a conversation with me. Similarly, the perception that people who have almost nothing are all screwed up is also not true. Having volunteered in soup kitchens and handing out essentials on the streets of Bridgeport, I have come to see that what these people need most is someone to talk to. When you strip away money, possessions, and all the worldly things we like to label people with, it turns out that we all have similar struggles and we all just want someone to talk to. All it takes to get people to open up is to treat them as humans, not as someone from a different class, but simply as humans. If we have a preconceived notion about how someone will act when we meet them, then they will most likely act that we because we ourselves have not opened ourselves up and stripped away our assumptions. I have had down to earth conversations with people who frequent the soup kitchens to those who own the private islands. There is very little difference between who they are other than what they wear and the amount of money they have. Despite that, they are the same.
I was going to say that its amazing that people still have this view of the way people should be based upon what they own, how much money they have, and where they live. However, its really not amazing when you look at society and the way people act. I think it would be beneficial to our society if we all took some time to meet people who are different than us. I have been fortunate enough to see a little of all the classes, yet I know that I am an anomaly when it comes to that. Not everyone can just drive up to a mansion and start having a conversation with someone. I occasionally get a call and do just that. However, everyone can and should volunteer their time to help those in need and when helping them, engage them in a conversation. Most people, especially those with very little, just need someone to talk to about what their lives and what they are going through. Oddly enough, its the same way with those who have money; often times they just want someone with an open ear to talk to and share their story with. The struggles are essentially the same when you boil it down. Everyone deals with stress and everyone needs help to get through it. What we really need to do is cast aside our class system and get back to treating each other as equals. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening any time soon. For now, I will do my part and listen to people when they need to talk, ask them questions about their lives, and do my traveling between the classes.
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