Whether sociologists’ delineate society using Max Weber’s
multidimensional approach where final rank is calculated as a combined figure of sliding scores assigned individually to wealth, power and prestige, or use Karl Marx’ simplified theory based on property ownership, method matters little beyond the scope of formal research. (Kendall, 2013, pp. 224-232)
Those members of society born into either the privileged elite or the desperately poor represent the outlyers of statistical models. Numerical evidence reviewed from the interactive graphs provided by the
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Monopoly in a Stratified Society
Introduction to Sociology – Fall 2013
special series produced by The New York Times website, entitled Class Matters, indicatates social mobility is unlikely, in either direction, for the upper-most or lower-most quintile. (Bradbury & Jane, …show more content…
The lowest class in this game was collectively pittied by the group, but their lack of income all but eliminated them in the first hour. Current media coverage indcates a rising animosity towards social welfare programs and a demonization of those who find themselves in need of public assistance. This seems directly opposite of what Marx predicted. The attack does not appear to be on the most powerful, but upon the most vulnerable. Why? As the super-rich, become progressively moreso, why does their responsibility to the stability of the system not increase? (Kendall, 2013, p. 236) Why is the burden to provide at least the bare necessities to the less fortunate not shifted to the most capable? The top 1% own 42% of the nation’s wealth; 35% of that belonging to the super-rich (Kendall, 2013, p. 237). The highest reported federal income tax rate is 39.6% according to documents available on TaxFoundation.org, as of October 17,
2013. The higest income bracket using inflation-adjusted figures is defined as income above $440,876.
(Tax Foundation, 2013) Here is evidence of my final conclusion, the top 0.5% are not represented in