America Seems to Be Moving towards a Two Class System...

Fine dining restaurants, upscale stores, and discount stores are prospering. Meanwhile, more casual restaurants and stores are suffering. This can be described as the byproduct of the lower and upper classes taking over our economy, as the middle class slowly diminishes right before our eyes. John G. Maxwell, head of the global retail and consumer practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers stated this, â€Å"As a retailer or restaurant chain, if you’re not at the really high level or the low level, that’s a tough place to be. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle.† Middle class jobs are continuing to decline and before we know it America could be looking at a two class system rather than the three class system. The middle class began in 1914, 100†¦show more content†¦These contracts provided workers with ample benefits and contributed just as much as Ford’s five dollars a day, in creating the true middle class in the United States. Nowadays, th e middle class is shrinking, while majority of people are either moving into the lower or upper classes. This is due to the major economic and policy changes that have occurred throughout the past thirty years. Based on the Basic Economy Security Tables, one in four full-time working-age adults are not earning enough income to meet economic needs for themselves or their families. This is a serious problem in America today, the fact that the median income today is six hundred dollars less than it was in 1989 is proof of this epidemic. It is much harder now, than ever, to work your way into the middle class, much less stay there. The percentage income growth since 1967 for the top 5 percent of earners is 88%, top 20 percent of earners grew 70%, and middle-income households only grew 20%. (Camp) In simpler terms, the upper classes income has increased tremendously, while middle-income households have seen very little growth in their income. Since the middle class is not receiving any i ncome growth, it is declining and moving towards the lower class. It is not nearly as easy as it was thirty years ago to get a decent job and makeShow MoreRelatedPromises Not Kept : Poverty And The Betrayal Of Third World Development1969 Words   |  8 Pagesplanet are poor. Most live in the third-world countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where the typical standards of living are so far below that of the industrialized countries. Many lack adequate nutrition, shelter, and clothing. They are susceptible to disease and early mortality. In his book, Promises not kept Isbister explains to us that most of the people living in poverty stricken Asia, South America, and Africa are plagued by disease, danger and uncertainty. Isbister asks us theRead MoreThe Choice Of A Career Essay2106 Words   |  9 Pagesfirst year of college. From early childhood, people are asked what they would like to be when they grow up. 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