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I think part of this is right. Up until Kennedy's presidency, the country was run by WASPs who make up most of what is called "old money". WASPs probably still
by onetimeusename 4y ago
I think part of this is right. Up until Kennedy's presidency, the country was run by WASPs who make up most of what is called "old money". WASPs probably still exist in some form but I probably wouldn't call them the upper class anymore because they have no power or privilege. In fact, one of their exclusive gateways to retaining power, the Ivy League, has disavowed them and white people as a whole are the only race that is underrepresented relative to population size in the Ivy League. So I do not believe WASPs can claim to be the upper class anymore although I am sure they are relatively well off. Further, as a group Asians are among some of the highest earners so it would be hard to argue that they are part of a lower class despite being so in prior generations. So I do think class has changed in the US over the last 100 years.
WASPs might hold some prestige but I think as they lose power they become more irrelevant and less exclusive. I don't think it's straightforward right now who the upper class is. It feels like things are in a state of flux and amorphous or secretive. I completely agree net worth is not the only deciding factor.
The upper class will always be a small exclusive group by design so regardless of who is in it, social mobility is probably lower than most people expect. So to sum it up I only disagree with you about the power of "old money" in the US now. I think there is a somewhat parallel class with actual hereditary advantages that is replacing the "old money" class.
- abnercoimbre 4y agoCould you spell out WASP?