Questions• 1. Discuss your experiences with the game. What

observations can you make about the types of obstacles various players faced? What were some of the more effective coping strategies used by some of the players? Are there parallels to real life?

• 2. Is it true that the degree to which we can achieve equality of opportunity depends on the degree to which we have equality of condition (at least in terms of the game)? That is, how does the distribution of resources affect opportunity?

Karl Marx Classes

1. Capitalists- those who own the means of production

2. Workers- those who work for the capitalists

• Erik Wright argued that people can be members of more than one class at the same time (automobile mechanic turned business owner)

Contradictory Class Location

• Wright modified Marx class system1.Capitalists (business owners who employ many

people)2.Petty Bourgeoisie (small business owners)3.Managers (people who sell their own labor and

have authority over other employees)4.Workers (people who sell their labor to others)

Problems

• Is there a difference between managers?• McDonald’s Manager and General Motors Manager

• Where do we place a college professor?

Capitalist Class• Make up 1% of the U.S. population but own 40% of U.S.

assets• Direct access to politicians and their decisions can open or

close jobs for millions of people• Class is divided between people of “old” or “new” money• Most “old money” don’t work, rather study business, enter

law or the family fortune• “New money” are seen as outsiders, they lack influential

networks and are not trusted by the “old money”

Upper Middle Class

• Most people in this class have at least a bachelor’s education (post graduate in business, law or medicine)

• Manage corporations or own their own business• 15% of population • Parents & teachers push children to prepare for

upper-middle class

Lower Middle Class

• 34% of the population• Most have jobs that call for them to follow orders• Enjoy a comfortable lifestyle and anticipate moving

up the social ladder• Members work in a job that has slightly more

prestige and their incomes are usually higher

Working Class

• 30% of the population• Unskilled, blue-collar and white-collar workers• Less education and lower income• Jobs are closely supervised• With a high school diploma, very hard for people to

move up the ladder• People feel they have “real jobs” and “suits” are

above them

Working Poor

• 16% of the population• Unskilled, low paying, temporary and seasonal jobs• Not likely to vote (No party will likely help them)• Many work full time but still depend on help such

as food stamps• Many of the biggest fears of the working poor is

ending up “on the streets”

The Underclass

• 4% of the population• Most live in the inner city• No chance of climbing out of this class• Homeless are in this class and are seen as the

“fallout” of our developing postindustrial economy• Society has little need for this class today