American Social Classes

While participating in a Senior Seminar course prior to graduating with my "second childhood" degree in History, the professor, a women who i hold in high esteem in spite of her rather extreme points of view, taught the following life lesson: those graduating were part of a social order. What exactly did she mean? She expounded that American truly has a class system.

The American class system is comprised of the first estate, those individuals who are direct descendents of the first families to set foot on our soil such as members of the D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution) would be one example. Although not necessarily wealthy, or noted for any contributions to our society, these individuals are at the top of the social heap. Next, the upper class, or those individuals who are descended from the barrons of industry - the power-brokers who invested in our country, and made the nation great by what-ever means possible. These individuals built the mansions of Newport, Rhode Island and Palm Beach and include names such as Roosevelt, Carnegie and Kennedy. The middle-class (which can be broken up into segments, upper middle, lower middle, etc.) includes the "elite", or those holding a four-year college degree. The middle-class status is granted to an individual regardless of the degree held, be it history, medicine, law, economics, one is automatically pushed up one rung on the social ladder. The lower class, or those who hold a blue collar position, are on the bottom rung, again regardless of the fact that they work in law enforcement or fast food. One who holds a four-year degree or is a member of a particular family and/or can claim their grandfather came over on the Mayflower - all hold the lower class person to be beneath them on the social scale.

How American! Someone should slap somebody silly and point out that this train of thought is all Bunk! As a participant of the class, this was my first impression and I immediately filed both my notes and memories under "absurd things they teach you in college."

Why bring this up at all? - The media has given a great deal of hype the last few days to the "accidents" involving a certain congressman, Patrick Kennedy, son of Edward M. Kennedy. Apparently, young Patrick has issues with alcohol, like so many other individuals in the country. What makes this special, or different? Nothing in particular. Conservative author, Ann Coulter, in a debate on Fox News last evening stated she believes young Kennedy was given special treatment because of partisan politics and the fact that he is a Kennedy. Partly correct in my estimation. Ms. Coulter pointed to the disparity in prosecution of radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh and the young Kennedy as a difference in treatment between conservatives and extremists (liberals). Where did she missstep?

Patrick Kennedy, like his father Edward M. Kennedy, are part of America's upper class structure and therefore eligible for treatment that could be considered "special". This point of view is held by professors, who also believe that Bill Gates should hand over all of his income and redistribute it to the poor. These professors impart their opinions in classes entitled "senior seminar". This "knowledge" of class systems and the order of the universe is given to the future educators, politicians, lawyers, and most importantly journalist of these United States of America. These theories have been taught for the past thirty years or more.

In other words, he is literally beyond the law, because he is equivalent to an American duke, or lord (we never seriously severed ties with the British, that is a myth.)

Recall the troubled youth of his father? There isn't an American breathing who cannot remember the events at a bridge on Cape Code involving the Senator from Massachusetts, or of any other member of that family or other families of the same ilk. They simply are not prosecuted and subject to the rules of law that the "regular folk" are.

They are American Royalty.

People who actually live in Massachusetts hold a slightly different opinion of said family, which is a more realist point of view. Referred to as the "Kennedy Clan", members are considered descendents not of pseudo-royalty, but of "that rum-running, criminal, loudmouth Joe Kennedy", Teddy Kennedy is a shadow of his brother, Jackl; an embarrassing old uncle. For the sake of brevity, let it suffice that this family is not held in the highest esteem by the citizens of the commonweath.

The fact that the Senior Kennedy maintains his seat in the senate, shouldn't that be proof enough that the people of Massachusetts love and respect the man? The Senator has run unoppossed in virtually every elation held against him since he has taken office. Why is that? There are many theories -- no-one has the money to go up against the Kennedy's; the Kennedy's are criminals and would intimidate anyone who ran against them; and the most likely: the Republican Party will not run a serious candidate against Kennedy because he is a buffoon and represents all that is wrong with the Democrats, or so people (or masses) believe.

Patrick Kennedy will not face any prosecution, will not resign his seat in congress and will be lauded as a brave man for coming forward with his addiction simply because he is a Kennedy, not because he is a Democrat. He is the millstone about the people's neck, not unlike his august Uncle, or any other descendents of the Barrons of Industry who are held in such high esteem by the "elite" educators of our youth.

In our Republic, there should be no class systems, prosecution or punishment should fit the crime, no matter if you are Lord, Duke, Doctor, Lawyer, Police or Garbageman.

For more discussion, click on links to right: Michelle Malkins blog offers comprehensive coverage, and there is a lively discussion over at Daily Kos

What should be done with young Kennedy? He should resign, for the good of his party (the DNC), and for the good of the country, and for the good of his own reputation and his own peace of mind. Unfortunately the young man is burdened with being part of a dynasty, one that will continue to run-amok with abandon until our present-day "class system" is abolished.