I agree there will always be a pecking order, even if the masses in the world can be convinced to pursue education for the sake of wisdom. Even then there will be people that are more gifted and those less gifted. However the question becomes what do the 'elite' do with their favored status (aka positions of power)? Presently these people in power seek only their own personal gain! Even at the expense of their own offspring! Now if the 'elite' took their positions as caring parents watching over their children, in comparison with the rest of society. Then that is good. However when you look at all the scandals that take place in the world, that is not the way it happens. Profits are now taken at the expense of human suffering, as in the case of health care and sweat shops. The water is becoming more polluted, the air also, the ozone is rapidly disappearing, the oceans are being drained of their riches, and not enough people are concerned, because everyone is still making money! Now we may not see the end and neither may our children, but at this rate of destruction, how can you not believe that eventually our children's children will not suffer.

Sorry, I went and rambled

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From the point of view of someone living in Britain:

As anyone will be aware, in History the British have been one of the most class obsessed people in history. Pre 1900, if you where born poor, you would die poor. This lead to a two tier class system, upper class and lower class. But post 1900, the poor classes actually had the ability and opportunity to earn money, thanks to better civil rights and opportunities. Many of them did, and a third tier of class was created, the middle class. Those who had not inherited a fortune and a big house, but had worked to earn it.

Then came a little event that broke down the class barriers. Just a little thing we call World War II. During world war two, it didn't matter if you lived in a grand house or a flat, if you earnt your money, or got it through investments, everyone was effected, and everyone was put through hell. The rich had to work by the poor, and where effected just as badly.

Post world war II up to present day, many more people are no longer in poverty, but are now middle class.

I have two letters for this. BS.

Western culture is supposed to be based on opportunities. In society today, anyone is supposed to be able to 'make it', and classes are no longer called classes. The poorer 'classes' are refereed to as "People of less privileged backgrounds." As such the government forms a basis that class no longer exists, and it is only an illusion created by people who will not try. We even offer discounts and bonuses to people from 'less privileged backgrounds' who go to secondary education and university.

Again. BS.

In my opinion, class is very real, but it is not rigid. If a person tries hard enough, they can make something of themselves. BUT it will always be harder for some people from some backgrounds. Some will inherit huge amounts of money and need never work, others will have to pinch and scrape for their entire lives.

As far as elites go, remember this. Yes we need academics and leaders to drive a country. But a country is NOTHING without labourers. Think of the plumbers and electricians, and the people working packing boxes in a factory. Without them, a country has no workforce. So if the two are dependant on each other, then which is the elite?

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