US Society  classless society  majority believe they are middle-class  system produces many winners  strong work ethic  self-reliance important  what about the losers?

USA Today survey – Jan. 2000

Problem Areas 1 inner-city problems 2 break-up of families 3 dealing with criminality 4 agreeing on gun laws 5 reducing inter-ethnic friction 6 polarisation of wages

1.Inner-city problems  White flight wealthy move out of cities  result = less tax income for urban areas  unequal conditions schools, health care, policing, transport etc.  higher unemployment rate in cities

2. Break up of families  urban families caught in a vicious circle  increasing wealth gap  low-paid, insecure jobs  domestic friction  increase in divorce statistics  lack of (male) role model

Criminality  zero tolerance policing has reduced crime  but criminality still high increase in teenage criminality gang culture many crimes drug related  solution - tougher penalties? three strikes law, increased use of capital punishment  prison population over 2m. - and rising fast

4. Gun laws  gun ownership increasing  divisive issue  NRA – powerful lobby group  constitutional right to own a gun  people feel the need to protect themselves  laws vary from state to state  increasing number of massacres

5. Inter-ethnic friction  salad bowl not melting pot  ethnic ghettos in cities  Hispanics - poorly paid, often illegal, problems integrating  Afro-Americans - feeling of being unfairly treated  Asians - successful minority, facing resentment

6. Polarisation of wages  top 20% doing well  bottom 20% falling behind  minimum hourly wage $5.15  increasing frustration, apathy, resentment  greater social differences = potential danger for the future

However!!  unemployment is low  most people are happy with their lives  more social mobility than in Europe even for ethnic minorites  the American dream is still alive