What if the upper class...

[pinion9]

Just gone done reading 1984. Here is my question: if by some magical twist of fate the upper class and lower class were to switch positions (e.g. a welfare family now owned Google, and the original owners now worked at a 7-11 to get by) would the lower class rise again?

Essentially what I am asking is this: is the middle/upper class there (ignoring outliers, like the Rockafellers) because of hard work, dedication and drive, or is it all a crap shoot?

 

[Cuda1447]

Intelligence/Hardwork is def. important factors. However there is some 'coincidence' involved.

I do believe the welfare familys would drop back down to lower class though.

 

[So]

Many would. A few upper class people would stay at the bottom and a few lower class people would stay on the top.

 

[Savij]

What happens to people who win the lottery? They go bankrupt with a year or two. I don't know if the people would move back up, but everyone would end up screwed in the end.

 

[spidey07]

It's hard work and motivation.

In your scenario companies would fall like flies, economy ruined, only for the previous upper class to take over again.

 

[pinion9]

Originally posted by: So
Many would. A few upper class people would stay at the bottom and a few lower class people would stay on the top.

I can understand that. Paris Hilton, for example, wouldn't be able to rise. I also know of smart people who just can't get a break, but would do well if they did...but overall it would sort itself out to be approximately the same as it is now...

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: Savij
What happens to people who win the lottery? They go bankrupt with a year or two. I don't know if the people would move back up, but everyone would end up screwed in the end.

Exactly. The former elites would just open businesses making cheap shiny things (think rims and shiny fake teeth... isn't it amazing how much money poor people just waste???) to part the new rich from their wealth and the situation will re-flip itself with time.

 

[pinion9]

Originally posted by: Savij
What happens to people who win the lottery? They go bankrupt with a year or two. I don't know if the people would move back up, but everyone would end up screwed in the end.

Never thought of that...but I cannot think of many lottery winners in the news that haven't screwed up big somehow.... it is usually the older lottery winners that have a family and been mopping floors for 30 years that seem to benefit the most from it.

I don't even know how to squander a couple million in a year. I certainly wouldn't go out and buy a Gulfstream as soon as I found out I won.

 

[d3n]

People are programmed to be successful through life history and experiance. While it would give a very few a chance to break a social barrier and excel I don't think it would be outside the normal percentages of those who manage to pull themselves up by the 'boot straps'

 

[zebano]

IT would mostly revert back. Those that were poor due to bad luck, but worked hard would probably stay in the upper class. The poor who were lazy or stupid would revert back to being poor. Similar results for the former upper class - those with skills, dedication and drive will rise, the rest are stuck.

 

[pinion9]

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: Savij
What happens to people who win the lottery? They go bankrupt with a year or two. I don't know if the people would move back up, but everyone would end up screwed in the end.

Exactly. The former elites would just open businesses making cheap shiny things (think rims and shiny fake teeth... isn't it amazing how much money poor people just waste???) to part the new rich from their wealth and the situation will re-flip itself with time.

LOL. That is if the current owners don't convert their shops to sell those. Imagine buying a grill on Rodeo Drive after eating at Omar's Pancakes and Chicken House.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Many would rise, more would fall, a few would remain unchanged. Many buisnesses would crumble due to lack of expertise where needed.

 

[pinion9]

Originally posted by: zebano
IT would mostly revert back. Those that were poor due to bad luck, but worked hard would probably stay in the upper class. The poor who were lazy or stupid would revert back to being poor. Similar results for the former upper class - those with skills, dedication and drive will rise, the rest are stuck.

What do you think that percentage is?

Of the poor, how many are actually hard working vs. lazy. Same question for the rich.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: pinion9

Originally posted by: zebano
IT would mostly revert back. Those that were poor due to bad luck, but worked hard would probably stay in the upper class. The poor who were lazy or stupid would revert back to being poor. Similar results for the former upper class - those with skills, dedication and drive will rise, the rest are stuck.

What do you think that percentage is?

Of the poor, how many are actually hard working vs. lazy. Same question for the rich.

80/20 rule.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: pinion9
Just gone done reading 1984. Here is my question: if by some magical twist of fate the upper class and lower class were to switch positions (e.g. a welfare family now owned Google, and the original owners now worked at a 7-11 to get by) would the lower class rise again?

Essentially what I am asking is this: is the middle/upper class there (ignoring outliers, like the Rockafellers) because of hard work, dedication and drive, or is it all a crap shoot?

Some are born with a silver spoon.
Somer earn it through hard work.
Some get lucky.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: pinion9

Originally posted by: zebano
IT would mostly revert back. Those that were poor due to bad luck, but worked hard would probably stay in the upper class. The poor who were lazy or stupid would revert back to being poor. Similar results for the former upper class - those with skills, dedication and drive will rise, the rest are stuck.

What do you think that percentage is?

Of the poor, how many are actually hard working vs. lazy. Same question for the rich.

I've known many a buisness that have gone bust even though the owners were hard working and honest. Merely because they were not skilled in the buisness side.

The people that are good with money, get money easily. The people that aren't are broke, scam, or start a "religion" run by lawyers.

 

[Queasy]

The rich will keep doing what make them rich. The poor will keep doing what makes them poor.

 

[JS80]

in 100 years it'll go back to the way it was.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: Queasy
The rich will keep doing what make them rich. The poor will keep doing what makes them poor.

Not necessarily... I believe there are a lot of educated poor people who are poor becasue of a lack or opportunities, not because of a lazy effort.

 

[mugs]

I think the poor would surely drop like a rock.

The rich... many would achieve success, many would not. Many people get rich off one really good idea (or really bad idea) and don't ever come up with anything else.

 

[ArchCenturion]

I vote that it would revert after a fairly short time.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: Queasy
The rich will keep doing what make them rich. The poor will keep doing what makes them poor.

Not necessarily... I believe there are a lot of educated poor people who are poor becasue of a lack or opportunities, not because of a lazy effort.

In Soviet Russia Opportunity finds you, but in Capitalist United States, you create your own opportunities.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: Queasy
The rich will keep doing what make them rich. The poor will keep doing what makes them poor.

Not necessarily... I believe there are a lot of educated poor people who are poor becasue of a lack or opportunities, not because of a lazy effort.

In Soviet Russia Opportunity finds you, but in Capitalist United States, you create your own opportunities.

which reinforces the premise that those born with the silverspoon have more opportunity to make their own opportunity.


age old saying goes... yuo cant make something out of nothing. if you have nothing to start with... you must borrow.

 

[Apex]

Just look at the fortune of lottery winners after a few years...

Except that owning a great company (like Google) is much much harder than simply being paid out by a lottery.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: Queasy
The rich will keep doing what make them rich. The poor will keep doing what makes them poor.

Not necessarily... I believe there are a lot of educated poor people who are poor becasue of a lack or opportunities, not because of a lazy effort.

In Soviet Russia Opportunity finds you, but in Capitalist United States, you create your own opportunities.

which reinforces the premise that those born with the silverspoon have more oppertunity to make their own opportunity.


age old saying goes... yuo cant make something out of nothing. if you have nothing to start with... you must borrow.

And borrowing is a lot harder when you're poor.