Blog Post 2: Class Decides Everything

I hope Richard Florida of the Atlantic can back his title in this article, "Class Decides Everything." He implies that the "Class" system of our country has changed and evolved. Not only is there an Upper, Middle and Lower Class.  He introduces, in his eyes, the new types and how they have changed our lives and our futures forever. I would agree in some ways that the new Working, Creative and Service Classes are easier on the eyes and won't make most Americans feel inadequate. He talks about statistics of each class. How the Creative Class controls most of everything we do and pretty much blames it all on the economy. 

Description: "Three classes now predominate. In addition to the Working Class, which makes up just one in five workers (down from more than half in the 1950s) are the 40 million plus members of the Creative Class, who use their creativity in their work, roughly a third of the workforce; and the 60 million plus members of the Service Class who prepare and serve food, perform janitorial functions, take care of children and old people, and perform routine clerical and administrative functions. The Service Class accounts for some 47 percent of the work force." This paragraph speaks for itself explaining the new, most important Classes that make up our country.  

Repetition: He continues to connect the relation that "Class" has to almost everything. "The same was true of religion. Whether we looked at religiosity by state, by city, or by metro areas, we found that it varied by class. People in working-class states and working-class metros were much more likely to identify as “very religious” according to Gallup surveys, while those in creative-class metros and creative-class states were much more likely to have secular values."

Ethos: "Way back in the late 1950s, the sociologist Robert Nisbet declared, “the term social class … is nearly valueless for the clarification of data on wealth power and status." He is implying that even in the 50's the "Class" system was used and had it's arguments.

Structure: "But numerous indicators and metrics suggest that class does structure a great deal of American life. America lags behind many nations – from Denmark to the United Kingdom and Canada – in the ability of its people to achieve significant upward mobility."  He is informing us how "Class" is a direct result of the structure of our country's progress.

Tone: "Let’s start with politics. Anyone with even a passing interest in American politics is familiar with the distinction between “red” (conservative) and “blue” (liberal) America."  Sets the tone for political discussion. He is speaking to everyone as a whole, not just a certain group of people. Does a great job to attract all readers.  

I chose this piece because it attracted my eye at first. I wasn't sure of how the Class system worked entirely and needed some incite.  I liked the article because it was very informative. I learned about the class system, how it relates to people, states and the whole country.  It seems to me it is just a title though, it really has no meaning.  I guess if you really care what Class you are in, then it might work for you.