1. Questions 1. Discuss your experiences with the game. What observations can you make about the types of obstacles various players faced? What were some of the more effective coping strategies used by some of the players? Are there parallels to real life? 2. Is it true that the degree to which we can achieve equality of opportunity depends on the degree to which we have equality of condition (at least in terms of the game)? That is, how does the distribution of resources affect opportunity?

2. Karl Marx Classes 1.Capitalists- those who own the means of production 2.Workers- those who work for the capitalists Erik Wright argued that people can be members of more than one class at the same time (automobile mechanic turned business owner)

3. Contradictory Class Location Wright modified Marx class system 1.Capitalists (business owners who employ many people) 2.Petty Bourgeoisie (small business owners) 3.Managers (people who sell their own labor and have authority over other employees) 4.Workers (people who sell their labor to others)

4. Problems Is there a difference between managers? McDonald’s Manager and General Motors Manager Where do we place a college professor?

6. Capitalist Class Make up 1% of the U.S. population but own 40% of U.S. assets Direct access to politicians and their decisions can open or close jobs for millions of people Class is divided between people of “old” or “new” money Most “old money” don’t work, rather study business, enter law or the family fortune “New money” are seen as outsiders, they lack influential networks and are not trusted by the “old money”

7. Upper Middle Class Most people in this class have at least a bachelor’s education (post graduate in business, law or medicine) Manage corporations or own their own business 15% of population Parents & teachers push children to prepare for upper-middle class

8. Lower Middle Class 34% of the population Most have jobs that call for them to follow orders Enjoy a comfortable lifestyle and anticipate moving up the social ladder Members work in a job that has slightly more prestige and their incomes are usually higher

9. Working Class 30% of the population Unskilled, blue-collar and white-collar workers Less education and lower income Jobs are closely supervised With a high school diploma, very hard for people to move up the ladder People feel they have “real jobs” and “suits” are above them

10. Working Poor 16% of the population Unskilled, low paying, temporary and seasonal jobs Not likely to vote (No party will likely help them) Many work full time but still depend on help such as food stamps Many of the biggest fears of the working poor is ending up “on the streets”

11. The Underclass 4% of the population Most live in the inner city No chance of climbing out of this class Homeless are in this class and are seen as the “fallout” of our developing postindustrial economy Society has little need for this class today