Breaking through social barriers

Original Image: P.A.P Blog*

The American dream some may call it, for others its equality of opportunity, regardless I believe that this is simply a myth. Breaking through the social barriers is harder than many may expect, there are still glass ceilings to a person's progression based on their social status. Whether it be other factors than social class, there is still an underlying problem of rigid social and economic mobility.

For many societies, this will only become worse. As austerity continues, the hardest hit are those that are stuck at the lower end of the class based system. Although, this is not the only group that is hard hit but the lower middle-classes are being also being hit hard by the austerity measures. This seems to beg the question yet again, to what extent are we 'all in this together?' This rhetoric message that we have had spoon-fed to us, forcefully, is attempting to cover up the vast inequalities that are simply out of reach to many people. Of course this is nothing new, but a continuation of exploitation of one group by another as a result of 'bought politics.'
If I had to say anything it would simply be that money matters, not in itself as it doesn't buy happiness but it does seem to buy representation. So how can we truly be a democratic society where anyone can share a sense of this American dream when those who are buying representation want to restrict this. Politics should not be bought off by the few that can afford it, it should not be a luxury of the rich that can use it to protect their wealth. As long as politics is influenced by the 'big buyers' then we are no closer to true social mobility and people will be restricted in what they can do.

Though some may triumph whereby those in the worst-off conditions are able to fully make use of their abilities, there are the majority which are socially, economically and psychologically restricted from doing so. If austerity is continually weighted to those who are worse off, then these cases of breaking through social barriers will discontinue to exist and will simply become a dream and nothing more.

*Note on the featured cartoon: I love using powerful images alongside my blog. I would just like to put a short note on how powerful and effective this image is in expressing my point on social mobility.

We earn millions - but sorry, we don't have enough to pay your wages...

Original Image:
http://renetaxian.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/
cest-la-vie_greed/

Regrettably this is a post that is linked to the last I posted about Job Security. Not until today I did not find out that I shall not be entering the workplace again unless it is to hand in my stuff. The reason being is that myself and other employee's have had their holidays pre-booked because they do not have enough money to pay our wages. But why you may ask when it clearly states that the company earns millions per year? Well, it is a result of a broken management system aimed at keeping those at the top and its shareholders happy while using staff as no more as things rather than people. A budget that is set by those who simply have a bunker mentality but have absolute power over people's jobs and experience clearly are either disillusioned or have no morality. Playing with lives to match the figures, because they simply don't earn enough, no compensation, no job satisfaction and no voice and all we are viewed as merely cogs in a machine.

Well done to those who think they can run a company, who's next to go when a lack of Investment brings the company come crashing down? The process of 'panic cutting' will soon cost your jobs sooner or later.

Political disengagement fuels the wealthiest in society to be powerful.

Over the years we have become less engaged with politics and the political system. Our love for democracy and our love to participate has faded away dramatically. However, I shall explain why that lack of interest in the political system and lack of participation is not in our own interests.

Some may argue that this disengagement is due to the trustworthiness of politicians has more or less withered away and feel by not taking part in politics would be your stand against this. Unfortunately not, a lack of participation does not show your resentment but rather amplifies the votes of those who benefit most from this twisted sense of democracy.

Parties are too shy to adopt anything that is not consensus. Parties make the policy and 'shift our interests' to try and make it fit. This stems from decades of merging interests such as career prospects, income and wealth and what we expect from the state. Although we are to blame as much for this political consensus, it is our votes (or non-votes that I will explain) that are being taken for granted. By saying that 'They will not get my vote' is not showing your discontent, but what is actually being said is 'I will let someone indirectly use my vote.'

Why you may ask is this the case? This is because politics is still (unfortunately) dominated by the middle to upper classes, while everyone else has the vote, they do not have the willingness to use their vote. So a system of politics that appears to be dominated by the middle to upper classes from within follows that the majority of those who are represented by those within the system are politically engaged. So it follows what you are doing with your non-vote is emphasising the votes of those who tend to have a large influence and are largely represented in the political system. The result being is that those who largely don't use their vote or have little influence over politics are those which are 'victimised' by consensus politics. Therefore, political disengagement fuels the representation of those who are politically engaged (who are positively correlated to those being the wealthiest in society) have a indirect influence over all of our lives.

Example 1: Without Political Participation

	Party A	Party B	Party C	Total
Class A (best-off)	30%	12%	7%	50%
Class B	12.5%	7.5%	5%	25%
Class C	2%	10%	3.5%	15.5%
Class D (worst-off)	0.5%	6%	3%	9.5%

Example 2: With all members participating

	Party A	Party B	Party C	Total
Class A (best-off)	7.5%	2.9%	2.1%	12.5%
Class B	25%	15%	10%	50%
Class C	3.3%	16.1%	5.6%	25%
Class D (worst-off)	0.7%	7.9%	3.9%	12.5%

                                               

Finally, the example above shows that political participation and engagement has the power to change politics, therefore if all members participated in society then it would restrict one group from taking hold and influencing key decisions that affect our lives. As a result, I conclude (and I believe) that political disengagement fuels the wealthiest in society to be powerful.

You may take this argument two ways. Either that political engagement must be increased to those who are not represented in politics (in general I just used classes as an example) or that the state is an unfair system and must be abolished, in which you are an anarchist. Although, I prefer the former (first) I cannot exclude opinions of those who believe different to myself or even  exclude it based on majority beliefs.