I believe that Paul Fussell's "Class" makes the best accounting of the [American] class system. In it there are nine levels: - Top Out of Sight: Billionaires

I believe that Paul Fussell's "Class" makes the best accounting of the [American] class system. In it there are nine levels: - Top Out of Sight: Billionaires and multi-millionaires. The people so wealthy they can afford exclusive levels of privacy. We never hear about them because they don't want us to. Upper Class: Millionaires, inherited wealth. Those who don't have to work. They refer to tuxes as "dinner jackets." Upper Middle: Wealthy surgeons and lawyers, etc. Professionals who couldn't be described as middle class. I suspect this is the class to which I, an engineer, am supposed to aspire. Middle Class: The great American majority, sort of. High Proletarian (or "prole"): Skilled workers but manual labor. Electricians, plumbers, etc. Probably not familiar with the term "proletarian." Middle Prole: Unskilled manual labor. Waitresses, painters. (In other words, my mom and dad!) Low Prole: Non-skilled of a lower level than mid prole. I suspect these people ask "Would you like fries with that, sir?" as a career. Destitute: Working and non-working poor. Bottom Out of Sight: Street people, the most destitute in society. "Out of sight" because they have no voice, influence or voter impact. (They don't vote.) http://www.wesclark.com/am/class.html http://www.wesclark.com/am/class.html