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Thanks for your thoughts, people!
I tried to buy a wolly hat while out today, troosha, but they didn;t have the one I wanted, which was a maroon one with the word 'Cobblers' on the front. They'd sold out.
You're right, of course, El Tel - there is a lot more to be said and a lot more I could have said, but not really in the format of the sonnet. I think, notwithstanding the increased mobility of today, that studies do continue to show that there is a widening between rich and poor, but I take the point that it is easier to cross the divide than it has been. My main point was that rich begets rich and poor begets poor. Talented people will always emerge from among the poor, but the very fact that rich mates with rich (or well-educated or well-brought up) and poor with poor or badly brought up means that for the majority in those two halves - let's imagine for the sake of argument a cut-off point somewhere - they will not marry or produce children with someone from the other half, and so the children of the poor or criminal classes have huge disadvantages, thus perpetuating the problem. ArGee did an interesting post recently bearing this out with respect to the unequal education received by the rich and the poor in the States.
posted by
Antonionioni
on January 28, 2007 at 1:05 PM
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Hi Tony
And there you are, absolutely right, after all, who wants a bridge, when I have an airplane?
posted by
Bhaskar.ing
on January 28, 2007 at 10:04 AM
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Hi There...
Your thoughts are deep and the same ones we've all thought, at one time or another, I'd venture to say. Unfortunately, no easy solution to this challenge. One could debate this for hours, days, weeks, etc. Be well & keep sharing your insights.
posted by
mobedder
on January 28, 2007 at 4:38 AM
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Tony
Interesting, but I have to say rather, simplifying of a highly complex subject.
There is in Britain, and indeed in all the western democracies, far more social mobility that at any time in history. In Britain this fluidity between classes began long before anywhere else.
A couple of small example : Eton, Harrow and the other old public schools were for a long time after their foundation radically different from the bastion of exculsivity that they are now. The lord's son, and that of the yeoman farmer or small merchant mixed, drank, wenched and fought each other on terms of full equality.
IN the 18th century, great landowners, such as Coke of Holkham would travel the length and breadth of Britain to meet a farmer who had devised some agricultural improvement. These two widely disparate groups too fraternised in equality.
It is true that in Britain today the rich./oor gap has widened ; but how how does one define the 'rich'
The working class millionaire city trader, or the wet-behind-the ears internet Croesus hardly fit the archetype of 'the rich' do they?
BTW thank you for the comments.
posted by
ariel70
on January 28, 2007 at 4:20 AM
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Tony,
the poor is caught in the vicious cycle of poverty making it difficult for them to get out.
posted by
richinstore
on January 28, 2007 at 3:58 AM
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Tony
Put the wooly hat on!
posted by
Troosha
on January 28, 2007 at 2:02 AM
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Thanks for these comments, ST, One Time and Shy!
Yeah, that bootstrap nonsense. I'll strangle the next person who says that with my bootstraps. I have got some. I nearly put my boots on today actually, because I'm going out into the cold to watch a football match. Brr. Instead I've settled for warm socks and underwear, a warm T-shirt, a wolly jumper and coat. And gloves. Let's hope that's enough. I wish I had a wooly hat.
posted by
Antonionioni
on January 28, 2007 at 1:26 AM
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Very good, interesting, as usualy
posted by
shypettite
on January 27, 2007 at 9:10 PM
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Tonyz
I never know what I am going to find here.. you always have such a nice surprise waiting for me.
The poor will always be with us...
.. or so the big book says.
posted by
Blue_feathers
on January 27, 2007 at 7:36 PM
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No matter what country you are in
—including the United States, the home of the American dream ("if you work hard, you can achieve anything")—one constant remains. Those who rise from nothing to the top remain exceptions, wonderful exceptions, but exceptions nonetheless.
If you do find yourself born to wealth or even born to a credit-card-debt-burdened middle class (my socio-economic background), you still have infinitely more educational opportunities and have a broader horizon painted for you from day one. That means, if you prosper, you have a responsibility to help others do the same. No one has pulled themselves up by their metaphorical bootstraps. Their has always been someone to inspire or ease the way. If we do either of these things, our time on earth is not wasted.
I think. . .My, but I'm sounding pedantic. But then, I'm a teacher!
I like your blog, sir. Please sir, might I have another?
posted by
stbond
on January 27, 2007 at 7:35 PM
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You touch upon many subjects .
posted by
afzal50
on January 27, 2007 at 6:06 PM
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You're welcome, Discom.
I enjoyed yours, too!!
posted by
Antonionioni
on January 27, 2007 at 2:13 PM
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Unique
I'll definitely be checking out your blog again! What a unique combination, modern social commentary, in a sonnet of all things. That's pretty cool. :) Thanks for commenting on my first fledgling posts by the way.
posted by
Discombobulated78
on January 27, 2007 at 2:02 PM
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