It seems to me that in most references today, middle class and middle income are used interchangeably as synonyms.
Unless I am mistaken, they used to mean something different.
Who can explain the difference - if there is one?
It seems to me that in most references today, middle class and middle income are used interchangeably as synonyms.
Unless I am mistaken, they used to mean something different.
Who can explain the difference - if there is one?
Once upon a time, Britain used "The Middle ClasseS" to mean those who were not in the aristocracy, but did not work for a living.
They were middle in the sense that they were below the top and above the bottom. Almost every person counted in the census was below them.
Some equivalence is to the Marxian "bourgeoisie," which was defined as those who got their income from industrial property.
America more-or-less took the British term over, with the distinction that the British didn't thin that the Yanks had any upper class (Americans considered major industrialists and the owners of major plantations in the south as being in the upper class.
Then, Americans of lower and lower class standing began considering themselves as "middle class." Today, it is used about people who work for decent wages.
Depends how you define "class." You can define class by social status, education, etc. But if you define it by income, middle class and middle income are probably the same. The income defines the class.
Pew Research Center defines it as between 67% and 200% of the median household income.
Traditionally you had three major class groups with a lot of sub-classes within them:
Upper Class - aristocracy which were all major property owners. Over time this was expanded to anyone who was wealthy and owned a large estate.
Middle Class - the group between the top and bottom classes were usually merchants and business men. These were financially well off people and conducted business at a level much higher than the common shopkeeper.
Lower Class - manual workers like farmers, blacksmiths, sailors, etc and really covered everyone who worked with their hands with a few exceptions for good artists like silver smiths and goldsmiths and top level painters. This also included lower level tradespeople and shop keepers as against middle class merchants.
Clergy was a fourth class not usually lumped in with any of the others.
................
There was always a clear distinction between a lower class shopkeeper who bought local goods and sold then from their own shop or cart, and a middle class merchant who bought huge amounts of goods from well outside the area and sold them through his shop. Greengrocer is a shopkeeper in the lower class while a wine merchant important wines from overseas is middle class. However, should the greengrocer own and run seven shops across multiple cities or towns he would then be classed as lower middle class.
That's the traditional way it's down, and it's still the very common divisions now. However, academics and office workers mostly classed as middle class because they don't depend on manual work in the fields or trades work to make a living.
Where did professionals like lawyers and physicians fit in? How about engineers?
What he described was more white collar vs blue collar. They would be white collar.
I'll mention it again. Class has two connotations: social and economic. I thought the OP asked about economic because he compared Middle Class to Middle Income.
Economically, Middle Class is determined by how you compare to others financially in your area. There's a range of household income that defines Middle Class. Below it and you're lower class. Above it, upper class.
Politicians throw the term around because most people consider themselves Middle Class so the politicians are saying they'll help them.
Where did professionals like lawyers and physicians fit in? How about engineers?
Depending on their family background they were originally upper class or upper middle class, but over time they were seen more and more as middle class. A large part of the reasoning was the time needed to undertake the training for what we now call professional positions was only available to those from wealthy backgrounds.
Where did professionals like lawyers and physicians fit in? How about engineers?
Lawyers were not originally considered respectable or gentlemen.
Physicians? The good ones were Jews (and subject to those prejudices), the rest were barbers or butchers who did it as a sideline.
Engineers? Barely above tradesmen, due to having a better education, but still working and often in miserable places.
Engineers? Barely above tradesmen, due to having a better education, but still working and often in miserable places.
In this day and time, engineering has stratified with its own subclasses. Then there are the different disciplines of engineering. Some disciplines have become strictly white collar, while others shifted more towards the blue collar.
The mouse brigades never leave their offices. They sit behind a desk scrolling their mouse and punching buttons. No one can confuse them with tradesmen. If something doesn't work like the sim said it should, they are totally lost.
As for the blue collar varieties, there are not many left. The largest contingent are the civil engineers, but even they are fading into the mouse brigade.
As for being barely above a tradesman, a good engineer is first a tradesman before they can be an engineer. Your comment read like a slight, but I personally took pride in never asking someone else to do something I couldn't do, or wouldn't do. Welding, hanging steel, repacking pumps, setting a spar, etc, all paid for my education. I exited academics without owing a dime, and with a decent grub/padding, or whatever else you want to call it. You'd be damned surprised at the intelligence level of some of those "tradesmen." I'd personally wear that one with pride.
Up until the turn of the century engineering officers in most armys were considered as a lower cast than regular officers (this applied to artillery officers as well). Officer rank in most armys was purchased with the exception of engineers and artillery. These officers required math and science to do their job. Most other officers had very little, if any, education. Just a rich family! Artillery and engineers were considered working class.
This is shown quite well in the fantastic movie Zulu.
Ubique!
(Motto of the Royal Canadian Artillery)
Perhaps yours is a Commonwealth view. Certainly going back to the American Civil War, when cadets graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point and selected their branch, the Corps of Engineers usually was most selective.
Artillery, a technical combat field, tended to be next.
Purchasing a commission could well be a old British empire tradition only. I am not sure if other countries used it. I don't think you Americans ever did. The Brits dumped it in 1871. Our military academy (Royal Military College of Canada. RMC) graduates alot of engineers and artillery offers as well. I just always thought it funny that for a long time education in the army was seen as something that an officer and gentleman didn't do. It was too working class.
As for the blue collar varieties, there are not many left. The largest contingent are the civil engineers, but even they are fading into the mouse brigade.
Sanitation engineer.
Custodial engineer.
I have no idea why they're called engineers, but I guess they are the blue collar ones.
And then the engineer of a train.
Even programmers are called (software) engineers.
Train engineers has some historical provenance going all the way back to the earliest days of the railroads.
The other three are all examples of title inflation. You aren't getting a pay raise, but we'll give you a more prestigious/important sounding job title to make up for it.
Sanitation engineer, custodial engineer; all wordsmithing to make menial labor jobs sound like something different. Why the need for that is a good question to ask.
The old joke about the brain, stomach, and asshole arguing about who's more important comes to mind. After the asshole shutting down for a week, the point was conceded to the asshole.
Until someone comes along that doesn't have a need to defecate, no one is better than anyone else regarding shit jobs.
Until someone comes along that doesn't have a need to defecate, no one is better than anyone else regarding shit jobs.
Very effluent...
My statement is a reference to the attitudes of the past.
Current day engineers do not get their hands dirty, and leave it to the trades to fix what does not work in their 'perfect' computer modeled designs. How do I know this? I was one of the tradesmen who got stuck fixing them.
In the past few decades classes of engineers in most schools do not get any hands on training, not even a background in manual drafting.
Current day engineers do not get their hands dirty, and leave it to the trades to fix what does not work in their 'perfect' computer modeled designs. How do I know this? I was one of the tradesmen who got stuck fixing them.
In the past few decades classes of engineers in most schools do not get any hands on training, not even a background in manual drafting.
Not all of them are that way, but I can agree the vast majority are these days.
With the exception of being blocked by union rules from time to time, no tradesman ever had to fix one of my designs without my being at their elbow working with them. Union trades tended to get their nose bent out of joint if I picked up a stinger, grinder, or any other tool. That more than anything, precipitated my spending the majority of my career outside the U.S. borders where such things were less of a concern.
Union trades tended to get their nose bent out of joint if I picked up a stinger, grinder, or any other tool.
When I got my first job at an insurance company in NYC as a programmer trainee, I was moved from one desk to another. I packed my minimal amount of stuff and put it on my chair and rolled it toward my new cubicle. I was stopped. Only union members could do that.
Had an acquaintance who had been a railroad electrician, who then moved to commercial and residential electrical work. We were working on a hobby project of his and the metal cutting file he was using got its teeth full of metal, I told him to clean it, he told me he didn't know how, in the railroad under their union rules only machinists were allowed to do that so electricians would throw them away and get a new one when the teeth got clogged. They were about $6 each at the time.
I usually use copper to clean them rather than a file card. I wracked up five grievances in one shot back in the 90's on a turnaround in Jersey. Plugged in a drop cord, which I used with a drill that had a copper rod chucked in, to clean a file, all of which I hand carried to the vessel to prep an area for spark emission spectrography. Of course they waited until I was done to say anything.
Bottom line was, the turnaround was almost over. I was the convenient excuse to drag it out a few more days.
Union trades tended to get their nose bent out of joint
Worked at a Japanese auto transplant factory for 15 years, many of those years as a forklift operator. Forklift battery would get low, I'd got back, change it, double check the water level, and get back to work. Typically 15 minutes away from the line, at most, once per shift.
My brother-in-law worked at a Union auto plant. Forklift operator at HIS plant would have the battery get low, they'd go back and park the truck. They had to find a crane operator to run the overhead crane, to take the battery out of the forklift and put the charged one in, and an electrician to disconnect the battery from the forklift, unplug the charged one from the charger, and plug the empty one into the charger. Minimum elapsed time, 45 minutes.
http://www.forkliftpropane.com/advantages/
Personally, I see a lot more of these, than I do electric ones.
At McCormick Place in Chicago, until very recently, you had to use a union electrician to plug in any equipment (even a laptop). The rules have been changed, but back in the day, exhibitors at trade shows could easily rack up thousands of dollars in union fees for doing something the average ten-year-old could safely do.
At McCormick Place in Chicago, until very recently, you had to use a union electrician to plug in any equipment (even a laptop). The rules have been changed, but back in the day, exhibitors at trade shows could easily rack up thousands of dollars in union fees for doing something the average ten-year-old could safely do.
It's too bad some management negotiator agreed to a union contract that included such a provision.
Given where and when that is reported to have occurred, it's unlikely the management could have negotiated anything better.
Given where and when that is reported to have occurred, it's unlikely the management could have negotiated anything better.
Correct. The unions had this in their work rules and would have struck McCormick Place, forcing cancellation of events. The unions in Chicago were completely mobbed up (among other things).
Regardless of whether they're mobbed up or not, it's not a real good idea for unions to exist when a government entity is on the other side of the negotiating table. Ultimate conflict-of-interest. Something even FDR recognized. So unrealistic work rules in such a situation is no surprise. Nor, likely, the wages for the workers. Don't have a clue what they are but I'll bet your last paycheck they're excessive.
What class applies to engineers who are not polite?
That would be the cranial rectum insertion direct visual inspectors class.
Ernest pretty much nailed it, so just a couple of notes.
In addition to the clergy, add 'officer' class. Upper class wanted 'an heir and a spare', The eldest son to inherit the estate, title etc, the second son would buy a commission in the army, a third would join the clergy.
For office workers those on salary were generally looked at as middle class (in some division) whilst those paid weekly remained lower class. At that time office and factory workers were on wages, only management received a salary, of course within those on salary the class attachment rose as the importance of the position increased. Of course there were exceptions, a titled family remained upper class even if they lost the estate and the fortune (gambling it away was not unknown for example) Whilst an individual born into a lower class family who climbed the wealth ladder might gain entry to high society but often as not would not be accepted into it.
For further explanation. Link
One feature of the UK middle classes is that they have time and money to spare, hence their support for virtue-signalling measures like sugar taxes, carrier bag taxes and climate protests - all of which disproportionately impact the working classes. Anyone would think there's a class war going on!
AJ
The definitions are in part, culturally subjective. English, American, Australian, French, Chinese, Japanese, Bolivian, Chilean, South African, ad Nauseam. What passes for one culture as a specific class does not necessarily represent, nor have an equivalent, in another culture.
Not to bring poly ticks into the discussion, but November 5th is erection day. No I am not typing with an Asian accent, it is called that because of many hard decisions required. Which candidate is the least bad? There may be independents running, but most candidates are associated with either the Urination faction, the Go Pee Party or the Democraps whose concern is being shitty. Very few of either are really engineers, but some of them try hard to engineer victory.
About engineers and and the US Army. The top graduates of West Point are Engineers. To support that information here is a quote from a discussion about Army Engineers in the American Civil War. "By 1863 the Corps of Engineers had forty-six officer positions, but twenty-six of these officers had left to serve with the Volunteer Forces or on Army staffs, leaving only twenty engineers directly subject to the Chief of Engineers' orders. One of the most difficult decisions Corps leadership made was whether or not to fill its diminished ranks with civilian engineers, members of other Army branches, or possibly lower-ranking West Point graduates. Chief Engineer Joseph Totten, rather than diminish the quality of his personnel, chose not to accept engineers from non-traditional departments and only increased recruitment from West Point. Throughout the war, those remaining with the agency continued to perform their traditional duties but with greater emphasis on fortifications and defense."
Lots of army personnel leave the service and have almost no idea where to look for a civilian job. Engineers don't have that problem.
Only union members could do that.
And which management negotiators agreed to a contract with the union allowing such things to happen? I once met an independent labor negotiator (i.e., he was an outsider) who asserted that the best labor contract would be one that said "the management shall manage and the workers shall work." That, he said, would require great changes on both sides.
You can follow the decline of the working middle class with the decline of union membership where someone without a higher education had a chance to provide a better life for his family. Most States that passed Right to Work (for less) laws also have the highest poverty rates. Trust me your boss can always find someone willing to work for less money then you. If you want to blame anyone about all the illegals in America you can put most of it on American employers.
If you haven't guessed yet, I am a proud union member living on a nice pension after giving my employer 30 years making him rich.
I am a proud union member living on a nice pension after giving my employer 30 years making him rich.
Not as proud as your employer who ran a company successfully enough to give you and others 30 years of employment and a nice pension.
All coins have two sides.
:)
All coins have two sides.
Well, most coins. There are spherical coins which only have one side, the outside. Unless you want to count the inside, which isn't visible unless you do some cutting. Also there are pyramidal coins with four sides (the triangle plus the bottom). Here is something found on-line.
"Spherical Coinage - Video Results
1st Pyramid, Cylindrical & Spherical Coin EVER!6:51
1st Pyramid, Cylindrical & Spherical Coin EVER!
youtube.com
"Seven New Wonders of the World" - The first sphere coin in the world11:40
"Seven New Wonders of the World" - The first sphere coin in the world
youtube.com
WORLDS FIRST SPHERICAL COIN EVER MADE IN HAND! 7 OUNCES 999 FINE SILVER! SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD6:36
WORLDS FIRST SPHERICAL COIN EVER MADE IN HAND! 7 OUNCES 999 FINE SILVER! SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD
youtube.com
The First Ever Spherical Shaped Moon Coin0:45
The First Ever Spherical Shaped Moon Coin
youtube.com
More Spherical Coinage videos"
Well, most coins.
Ok, just for you.
"All coins that are currently legal tender have two sides"
Better..? :)
Ok, just for you.
"All coins that are currently legal tender have two sides"
Better..? :)
Three, don't forget the edge ;)
Ever toss a coin and have it land on the edge?
Throwing a coin that lands on the edge isn't polite.
Ever toss a coin and have it land on the edge?
I have, too (landed on carpet against a wall, after a missed catch).
Reminds me of Ratbert (ETA: it's worth looking at the next day's cartoon, as well)
Anyway, Joy should be familiar with the Pound Coin, 50p and 20p (Reuleaux Heptagons); apparently the Loonie (Canadian $) is an undecagon, and there are many other shapes. Maybe say that all (legal tender) coins have two primary sides.
Maybe say that all (legal tender) coins have two primary sides.
Maybe just ignore those being obtuse..? And those who have another angle.
Or perhaps next time I'll use, "a sword cuts both ways" instead, and if shaggy starts on about single edged swords...
...let's just say I learned sword fighting from my English teacher, at least until the day he slipped and I accidentally disenvoweled him. Major surgery almost worked, he's still inconsonant.
I don't think it's entirely fair to say they are being obtuse. As I recall, the side of a British 1£ coin displays markings/proofs. In effect, using all surfaces.
They are not the only one to do so either. The 2€ has such markings.
Multiple countries do this. The term 'edge' is not a hard and fast rule, it's more about avoiding confusion when describing a three dimensional object. There will always be three or more sides to any three dimensional object.
There will always be three or more sides to any three dimensional object.
How about a sphere? ;)
Point taken. Unless it's a 3-sphere.
I had never heard of that and had to look it up. It's also called a glome. Interesting read although I couldn't understand a lot of it. I may be a professional programmer but I'm definitely not a math expert :D
I haven't dealt with it for many a year, so I doubt I'd be doing the math these days. Assuming no one could find a pill for crs.
I don't think it's entirely fair to say they are being obtuse.
In the context of the conversation, yes, obtuse is exactly correct.
You have almost certainly witnessed a 'coin toss' at some point, if so you will have heard the terms, 'heads of tails'. Have you ever heard someone call 'edge' when involved in a coin toss...?
Thought not.
However, as most of this is 50% bullshit & 50% pointless fun, who cares..?? :)
Have you ever heard someone call 'edge' when involved in a coin toss...?
You obviously didn't see the post from madnidge: Ratbird ;)
You obviously didn't see the post from madnidge: Ratbird ;)
I did see it.
A cartoon, however funny, isn't proof of a real life occurrence.
So my question stands. :)
We will have to agree to disagree. For the record, I've had more than one coin toss end up on the third axis of a coin. Granted it's a low probability, but even one disproves the rule.
I'm not disputing the possibility of a coin landing on it's edge, I asked if you had ever been present at a coin toss when instead of 'heads or tails', someone called 'edge'.. ??
There will always be three or more sides to any three dimensional object.
Getting pedantic;
Torus, Ellipsoid, Spheroid and of course a Möbius strip
These and others all have only one 'side' or face.
Bugger all to do with the saying that 'a coin has two sides' of course. :)
Just picking two;
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torus
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipsoid
Euclidean space x, y, z, Cartesian coordinate system is used to describe them. You cannot have a three dimensional object otherwise to my understanding. If you can prove otherwise, I'd be very interested in that solution.
If you can prove otherwise, I'd be very interested in that solution.
I don't need to prove otherwise, your wiki link proves it. :)
Look at the animated gif.
Take a flat sheet of paper, it has two sides. Roll it into a tube, it has two sides, now bend it so the ends meet, you have a Torus, it has one side because there are no edges to separate the sides. If it is hollow, like a car tyre inner tube you could argue it has an inside face, but if it is solid, like a rubber 'O' ring, then there is no hollow inside and it has only a single outside surface, a single 'side', no edges.
A 3D structure with only one side.
You may not now be any wiser, but you are better informed... :)
Take a flat sheet of paper, it has two sides. Roll it into a tube, it has two sides, now bend it so the ends meet, you have a Torus, it has one side because there are no edges to separate the sides. If it is hollow, like a car tyre inner tube you could argue it has an inside face, but if it is solid, like a rubber 'O' ring, then there is no hollow inside and it has only a single outside surface, a single 'side', no edges.
You have a fundemental disconnect in your logic. It's still a three dimensional object. I would suggest breaking out a geometry book for a refresher.
ETA from one of those links;
In geometry, a torus (plural tori) is a surface of revolution generated by revolving a circle in three-dimensional space about an axis that is coplanar with the circle.
You have a fundemental disconnect in your logic. It's still a three dimensional object. I would suggest breaking out a geometry book for a refresher.
Of course its a three dimensional object...!!!
It is also a 3D object with only one 'side'.
You stated earlier that "There will always be three or more sides to any three dimensional object."
Keet pointed out a sphere only has one 'side' to which you agreed.
Basic geometry defines sides as being separated by edges, since certain 3D shapes have no edges, they are defined as having only one side.
Since this started as a discussion about how many sides a coin has, and shaggy suggested the edge of a coin is a 3rd side, which isn't exactly correct as an 'edge' is the junction of two sides or faces. But to continue, a coin is a cylinder, it has three faces or sides, if you bend the cylinder so the two ends meet, you are left with one side, face, whatever.
Exactly as described in the animated gif on the wiki page you linked to.
ETA from one of those links;
In geometry, a torus (plural tori) is a surface of revolution generated by revolving a circle in three-dimensional space about an axis that is coplanar with the circle.
And...?
Obviously you have read that, it seems you don't comprehend it. Sorry.
I comprehend it just fine. Especially in context of three dimensional objects. Not sure why you don't get that.
I comprehend it just fine.
Ok, then feel free to enlighten us as to the number of sides a torus has.
To assist;
Sphere = 1
Cube = 6
Torus = ?
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Torus.html
Without height, width, and depth, it cannot be a 3 dimensional object which is the context. A true torus would have the same surface as a sphere in context of what your very limited attempt states. However, it's far more complicated than that. Notes one through four denote the method for establishing cartesian coordinates to specify the three dimensional shape. Which once again was the context, something you've apparently experienced some difficulty with.
You continue to take it out of context. In context it would be surfaces, not sides, and that question I already answered.
I can't teach the blind what the color blue looks like, nor teach the sound of a breeze to the deaf. You're on your own.
You continue to take it out of context.
I have no idea what 'context' you are referring to.
This whole discussion began when I made an off hand comment that '"All coins have two sides'. To which shaggy responded that some (old) coins have more or are spherical.
So, the 'context' is about objects and how many sides they have. In that context you are unwilling or unable to respond to the simple question of how many sides you think a torus has.
So, to continue your theme, one can lead a horse to water, but one can't make him drink. Or perhaps, there are none so blind as those who refuse to see.
context
It is a compound word. Con meaning against, as opposed to Pro, which is in favor of. Text is written words. So con text is written words you are against.
So con text is written words you are against.
Now you tell me..!!
I always wondered why rubbing myself against a dictionary had a sexual context. :)
Take a flat sheet of paper, it has two sides. Roll it into a tube, it has two sides, now bend it so the ends meet, you have a Torus
That's some magic trick, turning a piece of paper into a Ford coup.
That's some magic trick, turning a piece of paper into a Ford coup.
I wasn't aware that Ford were involved in a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government...
I wasn't aware that Ford were involved in a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government...
That would be the elusive and difficult to find - Hillary's Clintaurus ...
In the tradition of the 12th Century monk with foil, quill, and parchment in hand: how illuminating!
The edge is not a side of a coin..!!
According to the US mint it is: edge:
Edge
The outer border of a coin, considered the "third side" (not to be confused with "rim"). Edges can be plain, reeded, lettered or decorated
ETA: A normal coin is basically a cylinder that is very wide but not very high: Cylinder. Three sides: top, bottom, and side.
Most States that passed Right to Work (for less) laws also have the highest poverty rates.
And more than likely had the highest poverty rates before passing Right to Work laws.
2?
Inside and outside ....
Only if hollow.
As the examples given were obviously for a solid object in each case, it makes no sense to introduce a result for a hollow object.
How many sides does a dice have?
Dice is plural. The singular is die.
The standard dice that most people are familiar with have 6 sides each. However you can get specialized dice in any even number of sides from 4 to 100.
If a die is hollow, formed of parallel sections, would someone then claim that it has 12 sides? (Just wonderin' how many hairs does an infinitely split hare have?)
Just wonderin' how many hairs does an infinitely split hare have?
Good point..!! In addition, how many heirs does a hare have?
(And does conditioner cure split hairs on hare heirs?)
Excuse me for rabbiting on... :) It's kinda bunny...
And does conditioner cure split hairs on hare heirs?
Will hair remove get rid of a plague of rabbits?
Only if you consider death by sunburn to be humane and acceptable.
"Bare bunnies burn" Isn't going to get you much public support.
New question.
Is the extermination of US talk show hosts "Lenocide" ??
Will hair remove get rid of a plague of rabbits?
If they are named Harry.
Hair re move.
If they are named Harry.
Hair re move.
re is a preposition so your scheme won't work on free range rabbits, only one ones that have been pre positioned.
How many sides does a dice have?
Depends. If you play dungeons and dragons, the standard set has a 4, 6, 8, two 10s, 12 and a 20.
Mathematically, you have to be more precise, and distinguish between sides, faces, edges, vertices etc. A surface has two sides (in 3D) etc.
The number of dimensions is important to the definitions: a "side" in 2D is an 'edge'.
How many sides does a dice have?
A standard die, 1-6, has six sides. Unless it is rigged then it is partially hollowed and has one side weighted. In that case, it would have seven sides (an inside, to match the six outsides).
Other configurations are possible (the afore mentioned DND 4, 10, 20 etc die).
Oh, and to answer the ongoing, non-topical argument. Any 3 dimensional object, while it DOES exist in 3 axies, may have anywhere from only 1 to an infinite amount of sides. Though the later case is highly unusual.
Can we, please, get back to the topic? I found it interesting.
Can we, please, get back to the topic? I found it interesting.
Sure :)
Just a moment whilst I open a fresh can of worms......
The traditional class system (European/North American) basically tried to pigeon hole everyone into one of three classes, upper, middle, lower (working). It is patently obvious that three pigeons holes are insufficient so exceptions were added, idle rich, clergy etc.
Whilst most people knew the labels, not so many agreed on the definitions, (quelle surprise).
For instance, you might define a certain class as comprised of people who don't work or contribute to society but instead live on money they didn't earn. That could describe the scion of a wealthy family, or anyone unemployed who survived on state handouts.
Side note to richardshagrin:
Yes I know what I wrote, feel free to comment on making pigeons 'airtight' if you feel the need.
I work. Every day as my health allows. I work in an industry that in the 60's would have put me solidly in the middle class with money to spare. These days, not so much. Hell, even in the 90's I was financially better off. This helicopter kids and prices have me going paycheck to paycheck. THIS is middle class?
Yup. Basically the inevitable result of governments printing money they don't have and taxing everything multiple times. Add a public who are easily distracted away from fundamental issues and this is what you get.
The kicker is that the public, who love to bitch about stuff, are loathe to admit that they are actually responsible because they voted.
A voting public get the politicians they deserve, sad, but true.
But it could be worse, you could be living in your grandchildrens age when the house of cards collapses...
Add a public who are easily distracted away from fundamental issues and this is what you get.
Sounds like the "bread and circuses" distraction... which seems to have exponentially escalated this last term.
Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
H. L. Mencken
In democracy it's your vote that counts; In feudalism it's your count that votes.
Mogens Jallberg
The whole dream of democracy is to raise the proletarian to the level of stupidity attained by the bourgeois.
Gustave Flaubert (1821 - 1880)
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner. "Mutton" takes the popular vote, but "grass" wins in the Electoral College. The wolves wish they hadn't all moved into the same few trendy coastal cities.
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner. The Timber Wolf Party and the Gray Wolf Party spend most of their energy pandering shamelessly to the tiebreaking vote.
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner. Everyone agrees to borrow money, go to a fancy French restaurant, and leave the debt to the next generation.
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner. The sheep votes for the Wolf Party, because he agrees with them on social issues.
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner. "Grass" wins the tenth election in a row, thanks to the dominance of special interests.
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner. FactCheck.org rates the Wolf Party's claim that mutton can be made without harming sheep as "Mostly False".
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner. The main issue this election is whether two more sheep should be allowed to immigrate.
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner. A government shutdown is narrowly averted when everyone agrees to what becomes known as the Mutton With A Side Of Grass Compromise; disappointed activists are urged to "keep their demands realistic".
https://slatestarcodex.com/2019/03/28/two-wolves-and-a-sheep/
Everybody got outraged about the banker in NYC complaining about trying to live on $350,000 a year.
What most of them didn't read was his reply; he was only trying to have the same standard of living as his grandfather who had been a carpenter.
What most of them didn't read was his reply; he was only trying to have the same standard of living as his grandfather who had been a carpenter.
Doesn't the Christian Bible include a fable about carpenter Jesus slinging bankers out of a temple? Poor hard-up and hard-working bankers ;)
AJ
Doesn't the Christian Bible include a fable about carpenter Jesus slinging bankers out of a temple?
Money lenders, not bankers in the modern sense of the word. In modern terms they would be more like the payday loan outfits.
Trivia: The Knights Templar were the first true bankers.
They were founded to provide protection to pilgrims traveling from Europe to the Holy land.
Eventually, to help with protecting people from robbers they offered a service where you could deposit money with them in Europe, then withdraw those funds from their headquarters in Jerusalem. No need to cart your life savings along on the journey.
Money lenders, not bankers
I thought it was money changers, neither lenders nor bankers. More like American Express changing U.S. dollars for Canadian dollars.
I thought it was money changers, neither lenders nor bankers. More like American Express changing U.S. dollars for Canadian dollars.
Probably a bit of both.
Doesn't the Christian Bible include a fable about carpenter Jesus slinging bankers out of a temple? Poor hard-up and hard-working bankers ;)
Money Changers who converted you everyday money into special coins used within the temple.
making pigeons 'airtight'
From a porn standpoint it wouldn't be possible since birds don't have a vagina and anus, there is a cloaca which handles both functions.
"Definition of airtight - The Online Slang Dictionary
onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/airtight
airtight: [adjective] with something in one's mouth and anus and - if female - in one's vagina. In other words, having all major bodily openings filled."
In other words, having all major bodily openings filled.
Exactly... The number is irrelevant... But fun :)
a certain class as comprised of people who don't work
a certain class comprises people who don't work...
(would that embrace those ambitious souls who graduate from "God school" and proceed to found a MegaChurch?)
feel free to comment on making pigeons 'airtight'
Only with the tiniest of bungs (which leads to other problems.)