THE AMERICAN DREAM

Immigration and the Reasons

AMERICAN DREAM
Land of Opportunity Rags to RichesAnyone can become rich, famous, powerful. Jobs and education available to all who want them. Through hard work, courage and determination one can achieve prosperity. Americans can live better than their parents did.

Immigrants Welcome
Emma Lazarus--"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the PURSUIT of Happiness

Social Mobility
The movement of families up and down the economic ladder 40% of incomes stayed at about the same level; 60% moved up or down. Only 37 of Americas 400 wealthiest inherited their money from their family.

What are the key features of social class?

WEALTH
Valued possessions : cash, land, buildings, property Income : money from employment, shares, etc. Tends to be intergenerational

POWER
Ability to carry out ones will, even if opposed by others Who has power???

PRESTIGE
Respect given to people with valued positions or resources

Upper Class Facts

Q. What % of Americans belong to the upper class?
0.5% In Korea, 1.8% (1980) Top 1% owns more than one third of ALL net worth in the U.S. 50% U.S. stocks, 60% bonds; corporations, property, inheritances; income mostly from investments not employment Ownership of resources - money makes money Economic power and political power intertwined family name & resources (old: Rockefeller, Carnegie, Walton, Getty; new: Gates)

Q. Extent of wealth?

Q. Source of power?

Q. Source of prestige?

Corporate Class Facts

Q. What % of Americans?
0.5%

Q. Extent of wealth?
A lot, but not as much as the upper class Usually not major owners of companies median CEO salary $10.8 million President of the U.S. $400,000 (why do it then??)

Q. Source of power?

Heads of companies, government

Position of influence

Q. Source of prestige?

Middle Class
The Cosby Show

Americas first black middle class TV family

Middle Class Facts

Q. What % of Americans?
43%

Q. Extent of wealth?
Some Ownershipown home Incomemid to high income
Engineer, $58,000 Teacher, $34,000 ALC Professor, ??

Q. Source of power?

Limited within context of occupation

Some more than others, White collar job

Q. Source of prestige?

Working Class Facts

Q. What % of Americans?
43%

Q. Extent of wealth?
Little Ownershiplittle or no property Incomemid to low
Factory worker, $24,000 Machine operator, $23,000

Q. Source of power?
Limited, sometimes collective power through unions

Q. Source of prestige?
Very little, Blue collar jobs

Lower Class

Homeless man in New York - one of thousands

Lower Class Facts

Q. What % of Americans?
13%

Q. Extent of wealth?

Very little, usually none Ownership: none Income: low

Poverty rate in 2001: 9.9% Only about 1/3 of poor get welfare

Q. Source of power?
Limited to none Limited to none

Q. Source of prestige?

Inequality Based on Class

HealthHigher class live longer (79.2 years vs. 74.7 years). Crimeimpoverished areas tend to have higher crime rates Educationdespite continued increases in financial aid, the proportion of higher class students at elite schools is increasing. Familieshigher class are more likely to have children while within marriage and at older ages.

Korean Workers
Work all day and night After work, should go to dinner/out for drinks with colleagues

American Workers
Works days and evenings Occasionally goes out for drinks with colleagues

Social Class in Korea

Based on Education Job Title vs. Company

vs.

Other People

Questions
Do you think work ethic is important? Why is education so important in Korea? How do immigrants have an effect on jobs? What makes the rich rich and the poor poor? How are social classes changing in Korea? How is your social class different from your parents or grandparents social class?