Just what in the heck or who in the heck are “working class Americans?”
According to Wikipedia, “Economists and pollsters in the United States generally define “working class” adults as those lacking a college degree.” If we tossed out the Brits with their class-built society with Kings, Princes, Dukes, Barons and other titled privileged few, why do we work so hard to develop class systems in our country? Two folks doing the same job making the same pay, one with a college degree one without, one working class one not? Go figure.
White collar, blue collar and no collar are classes of Americans; add to class the divisions of race, religion, geography and sex. Let’s not forget other descriptors: black, white, brown, fat, skinny, young, old, government dependent, skilled, unskilled, right-handed, left-handed, tall, short, the list goes on.
Perhaps it is normal for people to define others by the group and it is inevitable; however, we do take the practice to an extent that may not be helpful.
I served with a person in the Army who hated overweight people; it was so bad he refused to speak with even mildly obese people. This was not much of a problem for military members as we had a strict weight control system. Allied personnel and local nationals in whatever country we were in at the time were very necessary for mission accomplishment, but he would not even recognize their existence if overweight.
We may not admit, it but we all have a built-in need to group folks and a learned desire to group people. We also have the desire to identify with groups ourselves. I was watching C-span; folks were at a podium speaking. Every one of them started speaking with “as a ” woman, immigrant, black, brown, college educated, high school dropout, gay, straight, whatever I… and went on to make a point.
I have written in this august publication before that all work is noble work, and all work is to be celebrated, but it may be naïve on my part. The column was among the most criticized in the over five years of writing a weekly column.
With 75% of Americans not having a college degree, why do we think that quarter of us are better? A college degree may make you better educated but not a bit smarter; an advanced degree may mean a person is very knowledgeable in a narrow area, but not smarter overall than most.
The folks who tend to be elitist will cite the fact that a person with a college degree makes more money; OK, no argument here, but folks do not get hired for high paying jobs without a degree, regardless of their level of intelligence. Now some disciplines do require the training found in a college degree in a given field; at that point, the college becomes a trade school.
While we are on the subject, just what is wrong with a trade school? Why do we use social pressure to make our young ones go deeply in debt to get a degree they may never use? The elitist will tell us a “well rounded liberal arts degree is necessary.” We have repeated it so many times that people actually believe it.
Why I had to read The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer to receive a degree and become a commissioned army officer puzzles me a good bit; it did not make me a better Army officer.
Nine American presidents did not have a college degree, to include Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman; would they be called “working class Americans?”
Just why we group ourselves and others into classes puzzles me, but it may be a practice that will sadly never go away. I stand by my belief that all work is noble, all who work commendable. I just do not give a damn what group a person is in, as long as they are good at whatever it is they do and do it well.
I agree. All work* is noble and deserving of respect. I’ve done a range of work in my life. There is satisfaction in a job well done, whatever it may be. I fully concur that assuming someone that is more educated or better paid is superior is wrong.
*legal, legitimate, honest work
Mr. Basura,
In my opinion a good “trades person” is more noble than a bad lawyer. It must be cold outside as we agree.
Thanks for the comment.
Working class Americans are the “guts and glue” of the United States! Do not ever forget or underestimate them. Thanks to you working class!
Mr. Williams,
So very true, the salt of the earth folks make this nation work.
Thank you for the comment.
Let it be said that no education is ever wasted education. Perhaps Mr. Traxler doesn’t see how The Canterbury Tales made him a better officer, but the fact that he remembers studying them means something remains of the experience. He is the better for it. I thought I’d never need Algebra to be an English teacher, but I’ve used it in my career as librarian and as a quilter. Never underestimate the value of lifelong learning. It may not translate into higher income, a job promotion, or higher esteem among peers and non-peers. At the very least, you’ll be a desired partner for Trivial Pursuit, or you can impress a room full of people watching Jeopardy.
Mrs. Mandaville,
“At the very least, you’ll be a desired partner for Trivial Pursuit, or you can impress a room full of people watching Jeopardy.” I know this is humor; however, a young person going into debt, some with many tens of thousands to be able to remember obscure English writings or
“higher esteem among peers and non-peers” is because we are programmed to think a degree makes us better than the “working person”. “Higher esteem” is a learned prejudice among those who are being trained to feel superior to others, the working class who need them to control their lives.
Thank you for your comment, I always enjoy them.
Mr. Traxler,
Thanks for getting the humor. I understand your comment about high esteem being a “learned prejudice,” but I prefer to think of it as earned respect for the effort put forth, in money and time and brain-power, to get that extra knowledge, whether it translates to more than the knowledge itself.
We have lots of workers in AZ who appear to have no more formal education than some high school, but they work very hard to make life better for the whole community. I don’t like to think about life without them.
Thanks for singing their praises.
You sure struck a chord on my heartstrings with this item! Not all students are cut out for a college degree. At the same time, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are not as intelligent and diligent as those who do go on to higher learning.
While we are on the subject, we as parents (and grandparents) should let our future college students know that there is no shame in working while attending college to help offset that huge student debt. Now we get back to the “working class” theory. Students who work their way through college tend to put more effort into studying since they are helping pay for it.
Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I have the utmost respect for all workers who do a good, honest job; college educated or not!
Pat Brewer
Thank you for an excellent comment. I could not agree more, working your way through college gives us a better appreciation of a college degree and a better understanding of life.
Thanks again.