In the Journal of Economic Issues Strobel and Peterson analyze and show what Karl Marx considered class might not hold true in American society. Marxism is composed of two basic ideas. The first is every society relies on an economic system. The second idea is those who own and control the means by which goods and services are produced and those without such. Marx believed the struggle between those with and those without cause all change in history.
Strobel and Peterson show that Marx's major failures was not realizing what an effect democracy would have on his model. Democracy weakens the worst effects of capitalism by protecting and giving the workers more rights. Laws such as child labor, working hours, conditions of work for women, and even minimum wages were passed in America and most western nations. The United States also stimulated Trade Unions whose main objective is to protect workers and to better their wages. Finally, western democratic governments, have made an obligation to protect its citizens from financial trouble. .
In the late nineteenth century, industrialization came about along with many peaks and drops. Eventually, workers wanted to develop unions but higher corporate and business owners did not approve of it. In 1935, the Wagner Act was passed which allowed the working class more security and voice at their jobs. After World War II, the defense spending produced more labor jobs. This increase in wages moved the blue-collar workers up to the middle class along side the white-collar employees. .
From 1945 to the early 1970's, America's middle class was the largest in the world. Families of both classes sent their kids to the same public schools. Since upper class seemed more attainable, the middle class did not resent those that had more. The upper class also showed concern through .
their votes to support the civil and financial rights of the poor. .
In the last couple decades the shift of power has swayed at the cost of the middle class to the upper class.