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I was really offended when I found out about things like flash passes or fast passes (http://www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica/tickets/flashpass.aspx http://www.si

by joez 17y ago

I was really offended when I found out about things like flash passes or fast passes (http://www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica/tickets/flashpass.aspx http://www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica/tickets/flashpass.aspx) that let you either queue up for an additional price or just cut to the front of the line while poorer people have to wait. There was just something about having such a class segmentation at a public, kid-oriented park that got to me.

cema 17y ago
There is a reason the American project is an ongoing experiment. There must be something in the human nature (hierarchical societal structure?) which leads some (many?) people to behaving like hogs. Egalitarianism requires constant work. If you stop, the experiment is over. (Just one point where the American experiment may break.) This whole thread is a side note, but I think it is relevant.
- hvs 17y ago
  America wasn't founded on the concept of egalitarianism, that was an idea of the French revolution. America was founded on the idea of equality before the law (something that we are still working on).
  - cema 17y ago
    Equal rights were (and are) a fundamental idea for the US, egalitarianism less so. However, the anti-aristocratic feelings were strong. Recall, for example, that the titles were easily abolished.
    - hvs 17y ago
      Certainly monarchist ideas were easily eliminated and equal rights were a fundamental idea, but aristocratic thought was not uncommon among the Founding Fathers. The split between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists was often worded in aristocratic language. The people were split pretty evenly between pro, anti, and indifferent to the Revolution.
gaius 17y ago
Ermm, no, class segmentation is when you show up and say "My father is Lord so-and-so and I went to Eton" and they let you skip the queue. Or alternatively, being a member of the Party, Comrade. Paying cash and getting what you want in a straight-up transaction is completely classless and 100% American.

by joez 17y ago

cema 17y ago

There is a reason the American project is an ongoing experiment. There must be something in the human nature (hierarchical societal structure?) which leads some (many?) people to behaving like hogs. Egalitarianism requires constant work. If you stop, the experiment is over. (Just one point where the American experiment may break.) This whole thread is a side note, but I think it is relevant.

hvs 17y ago
America wasn't founded on the concept of egalitarianism, that was an idea of the French revolution. America was founded on the idea of equality before the law (something that we are still working on).
- cema 17y ago
  Equal rights were (and are) a fundamental idea for the US, egalitarianism less so. However, the anti-aristocratic feelings were strong. Recall, for example, that the titles were easily abolished.
  - hvs 17y ago
    Certainly monarchist ideas were easily eliminated and equal rights were a fundamental idea, but aristocratic thought was not uncommon among the Founding Fathers. The split between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists was often worded in aristocratic language. The people were split pretty evenly between pro, anti, and indifferent to the Revolution.

gaius 17y ago

Ermm, no, class segmentation is when you show up and say "My father is Lord so-and-so and I went to Eton" and they let you skip the queue. Or alternatively, being a member of the Party, Comrade. Paying cash and getting what you want in a straight-up transaction is completely classless and 100% American.