Currently in America, there are three distinct classes. The lower class holds 15% of the populace, the middle 65-70%, and the upper 15%. Although it appears that most of America lies in the middle class, social inequality and opportunity still remains a huge problem. .
America is supposed to be the land of opportunity. Yet, people from different classes don't receive the same opportunity. A study done by the Carnegie Foundation in 1979 found social status largely determined by family background, as opposed to someone's intelligence. For example, the son of a janitor has 1 chance in 8 of getting a job that even has median income. While, the son of a lawyer is 27 times more likely that the son of the janitor to get a job that pays in the top 10 percent of incomes in America. The only difference in these boys is the circumstances in which they are born in. However, their futures are so different, a perfect example of the inequality that exists within America. Two decades later, the difference is even greater than before. These situations also make it hard to move to a higher class. .
From then, inequality has only increased, and is at an all times high within the past 75 years and all industrialized countries. With this widening of this gap, this ailment of society may eventually lead to various problems. The wealthy in this country are too wealthy. For example, in 1989, studies found that the wealthiest one percent of the nation owned 40% of the nation's wealth. And, the top 20% own 80% of the nation's wealth. The upper class now earns 8 times more money than the average household, and 55 times more than a poor household. .
