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The US is in rapid decline. I think the US is diverging into two camps: a well-educated, well-off elite, and a permanent underclass. This story is about somebo

The US is in rapid decline. I think the US is diverging into two camps: a well-educated, well-off elite, and a permanent underclass. This story is about somebody who always thought of herself as the former, and then found out she was the latter.

bilbo0s 17y ago
I would agree. Only I would add well-connected to the list of characteristics of the elite class. My Significant Other just got done creating a plan for the lay-offs of about 5000 highly educated Health Care workers. Outplacement services, severance packages ONLY where legally obligated, others will need approval case by case, flights back to home countries, movers, obtaining extra security etc etc etc. She had to keep a lid on it until recently. AND . . . this is the creamy frosting on the cake . . . they had her include herself. I think the underclass of the future will probably be just as well educated as the elite. But they probably won't know the right people. It will be very much a sort of 'work from layoff to layoff' kind of existence.
- pw0ncakes 17y ago
  I think the underclass of the future will probably be just as well educated as the elite. But they probably won't know the right people. It will be very much a sort of 'work from layoff to layoff' kind of existence. The well-educated paupers will launch a much-needed revolt. Happily, it can be done none-violently with cyberattacks and property damage-- the people involved will be smart enough-- so we can have French Revolution-style pwnage of the upper crust and Glorious Revolution bloodlessness together.
mikecane 17y ago
I disagree with that view. That is not what America set out to be nor will any American settle for that. Mobility of all sorts has been inculcated into us for decades (one could argue since the foundation of the nation itself). This is different than many countries, where "duty" is upheld over personal fulfillment and improvement. It's our belief in possibilities that drives America and makes it unique among nations. And I don't say this in a cheerleading manner. This is why people come here. It's not just the money. It's the freedom to do things.
- pyre 17y ago
  > This is why people come here. Many people come here for find that the brochures were misleading. I remember reading the a lot of the Indians came here on H1B visas bringing over their wives only to find out that the middle class in America, is not like the middle class in India (i.e. we don't have a caste-system that allows middle-class families to have servants). The article/comment I remember reading seemed to imply that it was the women being brought over as the spouses of the visa-holders that were disappointed that they had to do things for themselves even though they were middle-class (and who then pushed for the both of them to move back to India).

bilbo0s 17y ago

I would agree. Only I would add well-connected to the list of characteristics of the elite class. My Significant Other just got done creating a plan for the lay-offs of about 5000 highly educated Health Care workers. Outplacement services, severance packages ONLY where legally obligated, others will need approval case by case, flights back to home countries, movers, obtaining extra security etc etc etc. She had to keep a lid on it until recently. AND . . . this is the creamy frosting on the cake . . . they had her include herself. I think the underclass of the future will probably be just as well educated as the elite. But they probably won't know the right people. It will be very much a sort of 'work from layoff to layoff' kind of existence.

pw0ncakes 17y ago
I think the underclass of the future will probably be just as well educated as the elite. But they probably won't know the right people. It will be very much a sort of 'work from layoff to layoff' kind of existence. The well-educated paupers will launch a much-needed revolt. Happily, it can be done none-violently with cyberattacks and property damage-- the people involved will be smart enough-- so we can have French Revolution-style pwnage of the upper crust and Glorious Revolution bloodlessness together.

mikecane 17y ago

I disagree with that view. That is not what America set out to be nor will any American settle for that. Mobility of all sorts has been inculcated into us for decades (one could argue since the foundation of the nation itself). This is different than many countries, where "duty" is upheld over personal fulfillment and improvement. It's our belief in possibilities that drives America and makes it unique among nations. And I don't say this in a cheerleading manner. This is why people come here. It's not just the money. It's the freedom to do things.

pyre 17y ago
> This is why people come here. Many people come here for find that the brochures were misleading. I remember reading the a lot of the Indians came here on H1B visas bringing over their wives only to find out that the middle class in America, is not like the middle class in India (i.e. we don't have a caste-system that allows middle-class families to have servants). The article/comment I remember reading seemed to imply that it was the women being brought over as the spouses of the visa-holders that were disappointed that they had to do things for themselves even though they were middle-class (and who then pushed for the both of them to move back to India).