Current Article

Fault Lines of Class

By LisaB on August 2, 2009 at 12:50 PM in Current Affairs

One of the things I’ve been struck by during and after the 2008 election is the classism that exists — think of terms like “redneck” and “white trash” — and where those fault lines lie. But of course we don’t have any serious classism here. It’s all about other isms, right? Maybe. Maybe not.

While race claims the top spot in American consciousness in terms of identity politics, I think there is a more widespread and potentially divisive fracture. Classism. Seemingly not as apparent in society as race problems, classism hides because it is reflected differently in different communities and gets hidden in national identity politics.

Classism, if it exists, wouldn’t break along racial lines. It would break along class lines, whatever the group. And it does.

The “underclass” of white people enjoy labels such as “redneck, poor white trash, inbred hicks, low-information voters,” and those who “vote against their interests” among others. We make fun of these people with impunity. Andrew Sullivan refers to “white trash concupiscence” in a rant against Sarah Palin, which even the NYT found objectionable. Lots of ink got spilled and electrons flew during 2008 about this terrible group of people who just didn’t “get” that candidate Obama was better than Miracle Whip.

I live in a college town and I can tell you underclass whites are looked down upon in formidable ways. But the most common attitude toward them is cold condescension.

The AA community also has its classes but reflects this differently. The AA underclass is held up to be the “authentic” version of the AA experience. Just ask Professor Gates, although he was clearly unhappy to be so “profiled.” AAs have a tradition of addressing the class line, as evidenced most recently by Bill Cosby, but that has mostly been done within the community and not “outside” where whites can see.

So the AA community generally acts as if its underclass is the face of the larger group (or are you not an authentic Black Man?) despite millions of examples to the contrary. The white community, in contrast, more openly despises its underclass. But it’s the same attitude.

For example, some multi-millionaire AA “gangsta” rappers live in gated comfort far away from the lifestyle they so often make money from and “well-educated” white people who wouldn’t dream of using a racial epithet are quite comfortable with calling Appalachian citizens dumb inbred hillbillies. Both the rapper and the educated white are using their underclass brothers and sisters. Neither offers respect.

During the Professor Gates kerfluffle, several AA commentaries focused on the inherent class issues of Gates calling himself an oppressed Black man. While holding that racism can still be a problem, these people are clear in how Gates’ issue was one of class and entitlement rather than race. DesireG made a video of her opinion while “a Phantom Negro” and Thomas Sowell wrote about it, among many others.

I think they are right. And I think both AA and white underclass citizens get short shrift from within and without their respective racial groups. Making money off the experiences of the underclass and then selling them expensive merchandise that supposedly reflects their lifestyle back to them is fine; calling the underclass names and sniggering on tv pundit shows about how incredibly stupid poor whites are is fine too. No pushback for that. So, what’s the connection? Total disrespect for the underclass whatever the race. Classism, baby.

Take any group identity and look for fault lines between haves and have-nots, between blue and white collar and between less educated and well educated. Speaking as one who has followed some of the “mommy wars” and other gender-related flashpoints among women, it certainly seems to me that class is the nugget at the center of many arguments. After all, professional women of any race have far more in common with each other than a doctor and a blue-collar single mother of the same race will have.

What about your group?? How do the class lines break in your community? Me? I’ve got to finish my latte before putting my broken washing machine on the front porch.

Tammy

I don’t even think you should be referring to an “underclass” anymore.
If you are middle class, college educated and live a normal, productive life, you are now considered to be “less” than the elites in Washington.

A degree from Iowa State? Meaningless.
A masters or PHD from the University of Minnesota?
Bah, not worth the paper it’s written on.

The elites in Washington may think they know more than those of us who live in “fly-over” country, but I can tell you right now that they will pay for their snobbery.
In the voting booth.
And we outnumber them by millions.
Chew on that for a while, you Ivy League Losers.

http://noquarter foxyladi14

AMEN to that..we will have the last laugh at those snobs
BlueTopaz

How impressive is it for Yawn, I mean Yale, that W graduated from there? It’s common knowledge that if you have the right connections, you will graduate from an Ivy school no matter how stupid you are.

Patrick Henry

I would go to the Store today…but its hot outside..and I ant find my pickup because the grass is too tall..and Ican’t mow because I can’t find the lawnmower in all that grass..so i am gonna try to sit here and forget I am a Bitter White person because I had to Sell My guns because I can’t find a job..but the Drug dealers and pawn shops still seem to be doing Well..AND

After the last presidental Elections..For the first time in my Life..I’m ashamed of my country..Despise the MSM and will never look at Beer the same way again..

http://www.sonicninjakitty.wordpress.com Sonic Ninja Kitty

…Despise the MSM and will never look at Beer the same way again.

I will drink to that!! (a gin and tonic, da’ling! lol)

felizarte

Insightful article! Congratulations! About time this ‘classism’ gets talked about. This issue is at the heart of today’s problems. This is why those making policies can’t arrive at root of the problems and therefore always arrive at the wrong solutions. This is not what the constitution dared to achieve.
Fred

Classim, like racism, ageism, and misogyny are all at the root about fear. Anyone who suffers (and it is a miserable way to live) from one “ism” is much more likely to suffer from multiples. Think of the most pathetic racist or misogynist that you know and they probably fear and hate more than one group. They are afraid of being dominated, loosing status or money, or appearing lessor than some group. It is also a way to obscure feelings of inadequacy. So they are basically pathetic sad sacks who are afraid of everything. And their behavior and attitudes tell much more about them than the groups they target.
tzada

Don’t forget rural, and southern and trailer trash.
As racist goes whites are crackers, gringo, honky and worse. An aok “diarist” called white men honkies. He was a paid aol bloggist from the Chicago Political Machine.

Whites do a crime against blacks and it is a hate crime. Other way around the powers that be won’t call it that.

During the election elderly well dressed women were gathering “street people” to vote, in their own cars. Other times these women would scream bloody murder if they came close.

Elitist have no place in my life,
jwrjr

I would suggest that it is not so much a matter of “classism” as a matter of “elitism”. “Elite” white folk look down on all non-”elite” whites, while “elite” AAs look down on everybody who is not an “elite AA”.
helenk

Remember the books about the ” ton” in 18th century England? They looked down on everyone. Even if you had money if you were ” in trade” you could not belong.
Well that class is not around anymore. Even if you still own the castle it is now open for tourist or a bed and breakfast.
People who do not produce are expendable. If you are a journalist who does not get facts and investigate and do your job you are expendable. If you are a congressman who does not represent your people you can be voted out, you are expendable. If you are a business man who does manage your business in the profitable, lawful way the business fails and you are expendable.
People with “class” have the ability to bring out the best in others, because they see them as people and understand them it has nothing to do with economics.
Most of the so-called elite in Washington who look down on the rest of the country have the class of a boar, and they forget they are expendable. They produce nothing but swamp gas.

WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS

PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
Ani

Insightful article, Lisa.

The class bias exhibited in the election last year and beyond is appalling. Elitism serves no one and only alienates groups from each other and from the facts.

Ellen D

I think class has always existed in America, although the ideal espoused by the founding fathers was a hope for a society of equals.
England always had (and has) classes but America is supposed to be above that.
In England (and Ireland and, I presume Scotland) you can tell what class people are by their accent. Here in the U.S. I once had a friend with a music PHD tell me the that he was ashamed of his West Texas accent.

I believe you should always be proud of where you came from and you should NEVER FORGET WHERE YOU CAME FROM no matter how high you rise.
That’s why I loved Harry Truman.

Snoopy

Is this really smoking gun of Obama’s Kenyan birth?
Attorney files motion for authentication of alleged 1960s certificate from Africa

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=105764

jwrjr

Interesting, and to be watched. But it really shouldn’t be on this thread.

Arabella Trefoil

I think classism will become a more prominent fault line as the economy continues to fail. There will soon be no middle class at all. Financial desperation will make people more defend their own class “markers” vigorously, whether it be a college degree or material possessions.

Actually, I think the real threat is ageism. Old people should just hurry up and die. We’re (I’m 57) are just too expensive to keep around any longer.
Lily

Class lines definitely exist. And although it’s nothing new, it’s getting worse.

I live in one of the most beautiful states in the union with some of the slimist and healthiest inhabitants in the country. But the small city I live in has the State Hospital, juvenile detention facilities, steel mill, US Army nerve gas storage facility, and a minority population probably around 50%. A cluster of federal and state prison facilities is just down the road. A little way to the north, though, is a high-tech,computer, military, wonderland that is trying to grab all the water and land from the rubes to the south. The beautiful people know that cowboys are a thing of the past and we can always import our food from that even less-developed country to the south. We all should be eating argula and not beef.

When the planners, many of whom I believe have military interests and backgrounds, don’t actually see the pawns they are moving around the board or relate to them, the planners tend to make really stupid and self-defeating decisions. And when money and not character get you a seat in Congress, what can we expect?
http://www.hillaryorbust.com Hillary or Bust

Classism is one of the main reasons Palin is hated so much by the “intelligentsia” (i.e., pretentious leftists). She brought this up herself in an interview. There is absolutely no respect for her being a Christian from a hunting family who went to average colleges.

A lot of comments I’ve seen on other websites about the birthers say horrible things like they are uneducated racists.

http://! stodgie

h or bust, this same type of thinking existed in the 60′s 70s and the democrats went down due to it. i am thinking they will again. such a waste! i heard today that obama’s real approval rating is far lower than 50%. that is a rumor and please take it as that.

joe sixpack and many others are sick of the pelsoi, kennedy, obama snobish put down attitude with nothing to back up their claims to superiority.

http://sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

Very good article Lisa. I know you are definitely spot on wrt the white side. The AA side, i have no idea, and am afraid to even comment. haha

I remember Chris Rock had a skit and it was something about how some black people ruin it for all the other african americans…they like acting stupid or something, and shoot at the movie screen. I have to look for it. i can’t remember it all, but I think it was addressing this.

We saw a LOT of classism during this election. A LOT. And it keeps happening. I want to just slap those pundits sometimes.

http://sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

I found what I was talking about, but it Chris talks about *n* words vs. black people. There is some stuff in there about education, and the media, and stuff that is perhaps relative to this. Not sure. :OS It is called Chris Rock – Black People. I won’t link it because of the massive use of the n word, but it is a funny/interesting take, coming from him.

http://! stodgie

american girl, i saw rock’s hbo show where he defines the word. he can be an extremely funny guy. rock can get away with doing that while a white comedian never could.

http://sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

OK, I was just reading newsbusters, and someone linked to this blog:

http://nicedoggie.net/index.php/archives/2234

This is a great article, and I swear, after eing called racist so many times this past election for preferring hillary, and then for not liking obama, it was SUCH a breath of fresh air. A relief.

It is funny, though, because he has the same Chris Rock video I was talking about. The middle one is missing, I think it was BIll Cosby.

It is well worth the read!!!! (the comments too)

I love that guy.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Basic-Parenting-Styles&id=744499 Northwest rain

I’ve always been puzzled why the “ivy” league schools are so superior to other colleges.

It has been apparent that 0zero and his gang used the “us against them” to gain their position. This is probably how Chicago politics is played. 0zero long ago figured out how to tap into the primitive emotions of humans and he has learned how to manipulate the human lizard brain.

At the same time team 0zero produced an illusion of the “in-crowd” and created the desire in a mob to want to be among the “in-crowd”.

When will the 0zero mob learn that they have been used? How many of these fools need to lose their homes (they can’t refinance and they can’t pay 12% on their home loans) before the mob learns that they have been used?

The — bitter rural folk clinging to their guns and hugging their bibles — will be joined by the urban trash and suburban trash as well as the trailer trash as discarded rejects.

The parasite class of the ultra billionaires got their guy in the white house — they found a guy who will do their bidding. They don’t care how he gets the job done and how many pension funds he has to loot — or how many old folks 0zero needs to terminate.

Welcome to the era of class warfare — as well as regional warfare.

0zero uses chaos to get what he wants — this is his “leadership” style. Pitting people against each other is how he will maintain his grip on the insane mob running on lizard brain power.

elise

Northwest Rain, Ivy League schools have a lot of money. The tuition is very high and they receive endowments from alumni who are generally from wealthy families. They can hire the best professors who are also (frequently) graduates of Ivy League schools. It’s incestuous.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Basic-Parenting-Styles&id=744499 Northwest rain

my comment did not post AGAIN.
Joanie in Brooklyn

American Girl In Italy: A Chris Rock skit has no place in this discussion unless you buy into the parody. It’s satire; it’s poking fun at a stereotype. If you feel you’re afraid to comment about the AA side of classism, then don’t. But don’t reference a Chris Rock skit; especially if the premise of the skit is that some Black people like acting stupid. Well so do some white people. The difference is that the white people are perceived as stupid individuals whereas the stupid black people are seen as representative of the whole group.

Lisa B: Who are you referring to when you say they “act as if the underclass is the face of the larger group?” Not Black people. Black people have always know there are some among us who are doing and have done well. Goes back to the days of house slaves and yard slaves.

Generalizations will not advance this discussion. The premise of your post that classism exists and that it cuts across race lines is spot on. But you get lost in the analyis because I don’t think you have had any discussion with any black people on the subject.

As a starting point I would suggest you discount anything said by a celebrity. Not because their views are not legitimate but because in advancing towards celebrity many of them have become removed from everyday black life. The operative word is everyday. I know Bill Cosby cannot speak for me; neither can Chris Rock. Both Spike Lee and Chris Rock’s wife have businesses not far from where I live. But I won’t pretend that I can go to their house for dinner. You reference multi-millionaire rappers and Harvard professors. Surely you realize that these people are atypical; in both the black and the white world.

I live in the black community. Within this community there are people we think of as “ghetto”. This is our phrase for our own underclass. I won’t bore you with what constitues being “ghetto” ( yes someone has actually devised a “test” to see if you are or are not “ghetto”) but suffice it to say no one in the black community thinks that the ghetto people represents the authentic black experience; if by “authentic” you mean the only true and legitimately black experience.

http://sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

While I appreciate the feedback, I believe I do have a right to comment as I wish on a message board. You are also free to express your views, but please do not ever tell me what I can and can not say. That really bugs.

Joanie in Brooklyn

Obviously you’re very thin-skinned and don’t understand my point. My point is this is serious stuff and you’re muddying the waters with references to guys who are trying to get laughs. But then maybe you can’t differenciate between farce,fiction and truth.

http://sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

you are not really helping matters by implying i am an idiot….

according to your comments, Chris Rock can’t speak to the black experience because he is rich? And although he is doing stand-up his comments have no basis in his reality? You don’t think comedians write what they know, and that their *skits* are based in their reality?

My point in initially bring him up was that he was rich, and talking about a lower SES group. That is how I remembered it.

You wrote:
“Well so do some white people. The difference is that the white people are perceived as stupid individuals whereas the stupid black people are seen as representative of the whole group.”

I disagree with that statement. Aren’t all white cops racist? Aren’t all conservatives bible and gun clinging racists? Aren’t all blonds stupid? Weren’t all Hillary Clinton voters ignorant racists? People lump white people into groups ALL the time, by the actions of a few.

I lump people who do stupid things into one group. Stupid people. haha

Did you happen to read that other article I linked? Curious on your thoughts.
http://! stodgie

joanie, you are the thin skinned one. you are creating a mountain out of flat land. leave american girl and alone and take your biases elsewhere.

Joanie in Brooklyn

I did not imply anythng as far as American Girl’s intelligence or lack of. And if you see bias then our chances of having meaningful dialogue is truly slim. All I was saying is lets have a serious discussion and leave comedians out of it what’s so hard to understand?

http://sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

I was referring to this comment, but was attempting to be funny back in my reply. I forget that when people don’t know me, they don’t get my humor.

“But then maybe you can’t differenciate between farce,fiction and truth.”

Thanks Stodgie for *protecting me* :O)

We need to all just have a beer. No harm, no foul.

We are all friends here. (well, except for those dreaded mean Bots!)
BlueTopaz

And if you see bias then our chances of having meaningful dialogue is truly slim

Seemed biased to me, too, as well as closed minded and thin-skinned.

Joanie in Brooklyn

Tell me which of my statements are biased? I’m pointing out where I see someone painting with a broad brush, making generalities and possibly buying into stereotypes. Where’s the bias? What’s thin-skinned about what I said? I’m not saying that Chris Rock’s skits are unfounded, only that they’re exaggerated for the sake of a laugh. Let’s have this discussion about real people and sitiuations not comedy sketches and fictional characters.

Let’s take a real life situation from my life. I have a childhood friend who married someone really wealthy. She appears to have a happy marriage and I’m happy for her. At the same time, I know she can’t relate when I tell her I took my daughter out of her private college because I’m out of work and can’t afford it anymore. She’s been used to money for some time now and all her children went to ivy league colleges and they were able to afford it without financial aid. I’m analogizing about a Chris Rock, or Barack Obama or Colin Powell who may have come from humble beginnings but put it behind them a long time ago.

Actually, while these guys and gals (black comedians and comediennes)are funny, sometimes, I often feel that their jokes are at our expense. By “our” I mean those of us they left behind in the hood; because apparently many people can’t tell that it’s a joke.

Athena the Warrior

By “our” I mean those of us they left behind in the hood; because apparently many people can’t tell that it’s a joke.

Oh please enough of this victim crap, I’m so sick of this. You weren’t left behind. These people or any other successful person who happens to be black are not responsible for you. Stop looking at someone else to make things better for you and do it yourself.

Chris Rock is no more responsible for you than Brad Pitt is responsible to people who happen to be white.

http://! stodgie

oh please, stop trying to look down on the rest of us. that is pathetic.

Tammy

American Girl in Italy:
That link to the rottweiler site was fantastic.
That guy nailed it, and so did the pastor in the video.

Thanks for that!
I used to go to that site more often, I’ll have to do it again.
nicedoggie.net
Joanie in Brooklyn

I don’t know why you think I implied you’re an idiot. I reiterate: you’re extremely thin-skinned. Rock’s skits are exaggerations. They have to be to be funny. Reality is rarely funny. Lumping people together is WRONG. That’s my point. Believing all black people to be stupid just because some are is WRONG. Believing all Blondes are dumb is WRONG, believing all Hillary supporters are racists is WRONG.

If you read my comment CAREFULLY I said that Chris Rock no longer lives the EVERYDAY Black experience because of his wealth and fame. You referenced a SKIT. It’s fair to assume that if you were to TALK to Chris Rock about his black experience,his views might be different from that expressed in his skits.

by the way, why did you chose to start my quote where you did? I’ll let that go. but according to you, since you disagree with my statement, then all Hillary supporters are racists, all blondes are dumb and all white cops are racists.

http://sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

my humor doesn’t translate well on chat. I was teasing with my idiot comment. I’m not thin skinned, it is just my pet peeve when people tell other people not to comment.

I agree lumping people together is wrong. it really bugs me when someone addresses one comment they don’t like on this site, and lumps in the entire blog. drives me batty!

Why did i start your quote where i did? Because it was long, and I just grabbed one sentence. I wasn’t making any particular attempt to edit or whatever, I just grabbed the line, and posted.

It is easier if you hit *reply to this comment* when you reply, that way all of our comments are together, not spread out.

“but according to you, since you disagree with my statement, then all Hillary supporters are racists, all blondes are dumb and all white cops are racists.” huh?

I disagree that white people are not lumped together by the actions of a few.

“This issue has to be resolved between you and me and the millions of ordinary Americans out there. We are the people; and we can have a discussion without referencing what anybody else says.”

I agree. I was reluctant to comment on Lisa’s POV, figuring no matter what I said, I would get some form of attack, or called a racist, so I resorted to discussing Chris Rock. That seems to happen a lot in the Obama world. And here I was, thinking I was playing it safe…

Joanie in Brooklyn

By the way I went to the site you linked. I thoroughly agree with the sentiment. I’m not an Obama supporter. Never was. Never will be. But I think this issue is bigger than Obama. It’s bigger than Chris Rock, Al Sharpton, Bill Cosby, Sean Hannity, O’Reilly or an other celebrity.

This issue has to be resolved between you and me and the millions of ordinary Americans out there. We are the people; and we can have a discussion without referencing what anybody else says.

NomNomNom

“This issue has to be resolved between you and me and the millions of ordinary Americans out there. We are the people; and we can have a discussion without referencing what anybody else says.”

Precisely. And one does a better job in tuning out the msm and its spokes-talking-heads and celebrity darlings all together. It’s not like we don’t know they have an agenda of divide and conquer. If I were to judge by tv or even what I read online what with the proliferation since the election of bots and hirelings of every stripe, I would have a far different view than that which I developed by actually talking to people who aren’t getting paid to give their opinions.

Painted Pastures

When I hear somone being called a Redneck, I think “what an honor”. Lets take a look at rednecks and what they have done for this country. They have fought ever war, died in each one, they are still fighting today without a thank you from a black or liberal. They do not “get things done” for a thank you and never expected one. They are the “good old boys” from the south that you better have standing behind you when the fight begins.

http://! stodgie

what amazes me is that other groups think they have the right to call others names but all hexx breaks out if even a well know comedian is referenced. some folks need to get a life. political correctness is too much. so much that i growing increasingly disgusted with those who abuse it.

that will bring to a close any serious discussion on major important issues more than anything else in my view. sure a group should and needs to demand respect but they need to give it back as well.

Joanie in Brooklyn

I’ve got a life. As you can see from American Girl’s most recent comment she gets where I’m coming from. She was playing it safe by referencing Chris Rock. I understand. I truly want to get to a place of understanding where we can speak frankly. Sometimes, I’ll be wrong and you can tell me that. It’s not about Obama; I never felt he was qualified to be president and I didn’t vote for him. It’s also not about Chris Rock.

It’s about the ordinary people who have to share the same street, subway car, diner, etc. We have to have this discussion. The rules are different for these celebrities; both black and white. But then that was what the post was about: class differences.

Tammy

I was with you and Amercan Girl.
Two classy women, obviously intelligent, having a discussion.
But I’m on a computer right now, and your race and her race are irrelevant to me.

The elitists are trying to pit people against each other, and most people are not even seeing that.

Elitists(celebs and Washington) don’t give a shit about you or your color, and me or my color.
They just want to keep us ALL down.

And they are STUPID to underestimate our power. No matter WHAT color our skin it.

Obama will not prevail. Never. Marxism has been proven not to work, and I will fight to stop it til the day I die.
Even if I have to die to fight it.

Joanie and American girl are smart.
Differences of opinion are okay.
Just keep your eye on the BIG picture of this phony President, okay?
He thinks that we are all stupid turds willing to follow him, like rats follow the Piper.
He is SOOOOO wrong
http://! stodgie

Joanie, i was raised in a family that could have been called redneck. the term doesn’t bother me. i could take another poster on here to task about putting down the redneck life experience. that would be silly. satire and humor are extremely important parts of life and politics. if chris rock were so out of touch as you feel, then the aa audeinces would not attend and would certainly not laugh so hard at his commentary.

i wrote a paper on the use of language and bigotry that was published by hud and then the federal reserve. i know a little something about it. so i am not a bigot and the over use of racism and false outrage is destroying this country.

thank you

Joanie in Brooklyn

The fact that you wrote a paper on racism and bigotry tells us what exactly about your own views? I’ve read all the comments here, I don’t see any put downs of rednecks other than the use of the term itself. I saw a defense of rednecks, but nothing else. I did not call anyone here a racist or a bigot; neither did I imply that. So what’s your point. And you’re welcome.

Diana L. C.

My take on this whole thing is that it is not necessarily a class issue as such, whether or not it is treated differently by Blacks or Whites.

Read a little Karl Marx and then study his philosophy as it was worked out by Stalin. It starts out as a confusing discussion about the different “classes.” But it eventually becomes nothing but maneuvering to become part of the “vanguard,” and to have control of the Party. In the minds of some people I’ve met, the Republican Party and any other party besides the Dems should just go away.

I don’t often agree with the Repubs except in the moderate fiscal conservatism of some, but I think they were onto something when they suggested the Dems rename themselves as Democratic Socialist Party. Though, I really feel the higher echelons of the Dem party just want to be THE Party, deciding who is on the ticket and filling in the circles for us when we go to “vote.”

Anyone who doesn’t feel they’re the most intelligent and correct people in the world, should have no say. The sad thing is that many who identify themselves with the ONE will not fit the Party’s criteria for real belonging and will be sent down to mingle with us poor “workers.”

Tammy

bingo.
And you now that the Repubs who really matter are following someone who is a REAL person, who identifies with “we the people”, the Dems are on the attack.
You know who I’m talking about.

Don’t be fooled that Republicans are elitists.
Most are common folks like me.
And we will fight to the death to stop this Marxist Obama from destroying this country.

And the elitist Repubs can go fuck themselves.
Joanie in Brooklyn

Diane: I think both political parties have been taken over by the power hungry. I like somethings about both parties although I’ve always considered myself a Democrat. The big spending concerns me. I subcribe to the idea of “generational theft” a phrase coined by McCain, debt does have to be repaid, after all. But the Republicans lose me on social issues. I think we need health care reform but the “free-market” ideas the Republicans are selling clearly haven’t worked for most people. I don’t think private citizens need to have assault rifles; I believe in choice, and the list goes on.

But the most important thing I’ve learned in the last year is not to make assumptions about people and try to really listen and HEAR what they’re saying. Being a Hillary supporter separated me from many people I had been close to and aligned me with people I thought I didn’t have anything in common with.

prieur

Class – it would seem from this post- is a recently discovered item. Class in Europe is nothing new. In Britain where I live, people are constantly refering themselves and the people they know as upper and that comes in flavours as upper/upper upper lower/ upper upper/middle middle etc- you get the point

non english speakers who attended english classes to fit better into their new brit profesional settlements were given tetss to decide if speaker a or b was upper or lower class!!!!

YES CLASS IS A FACT – SAME IN FRANCE- depending where you live it is a description where you belong.
and all at the end depends on how much money you ear, hence power you yield.
Sarah Palin as a governor would have been classed as upper…but because of her erratic Uni CV, her small town beauty queen crown- a no-no when you plan to become politician- her pregnant daughter- those things are hushed down, dear made her disqualified as upper class- losing class status let her fall to low class hence the attacks. By the way, if one`s actions threaten one`s class , one loses status and being seen as a traitor to his class is treated as such.
Look at the way class-conscious people react about Coulter/O`Reilly and Limbaugh. The former 2 can be nasty but them being educated having the right accent and seemingly having attended the right Unis are not browbeaten as ElRushbo.
You mentionned TON. TON is still very much alive. Poor president d estaing 20years ago was meanly mocked because he dared to pretend to be as aristocratic as his wife- and mind you he had bought his d`. BIG MISTAKE.
The way you hold your cup, use the bread plate etc will raise the highbrows of who is higher class than you… nothing has changed under the sun.
Gates did not like a lower class invader in his home albeit said invader was a cop
Obama eats arragula and not iceberg lettuce.
Details you say but so important. My inlaws were posted 10ys in India and if you are concerned by class , you should see how it is in India. The driver would not get the bon out because that is Intouchable work, etc etc . at the end, they ended up with 5 people, the chauffeur, the cook ,the gardener who could not come inside the house and the kitchen because his low caste status…plus the boy/groom and the hand-maid…
Class makes the world go round, indeed.
fight 4 america

Anyhting here people have already downloaded it on disk.

Go to this link, then scroll down to just below the document picture and click the link there that ends with “Case Details”.

http://www.obamanotqualified.com/

Obama Depopulation Policy Exposed! Red Alert!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/v/ho-0SHFEgGo&hl=en&fs=1&”><param

Subject: SPREAD THIS FAR AND WIDE! (OBAMA AND DEMS Connection to attacking Palin)

See all the law suits were made up of the democrats.Listen and see nd hear who they are in person there they are.

VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIZ1wwcZHmQ