From Rags to Riches, I think not.

This week we continued to discuss social class especially the immobility of the top rich and bottom poor. Throughout the middle class (upper, middle, and lower) there are a lot of opportunities and a chance for a lower class person to move up and for an upper class person to lose their job and move down. However, for the very rich and the very poor, it is different. In America, we tend to believe in equal opportunity. Our capitalist system gives people the chance to make it big. Anyone can go from rags to riches. Although everyone technically can go from rags to riches, there are many things working against these people. In class, we spent a whole day arguing about this rags to riches kind of scenario. People were saying how anyone can move up. That women living in a trailer in Ohio could make her life easier. She could move closer to Burger King, have her kids work, work two jobs, and my favorite of the suggestions: close her legs and stop getting pregnant! However, it isn't that easy. How is this women going to move. She doesn't have the money. Her kids can't work because they are in school. And of course, many pregnancies aren't planned. What is she going to do? She can't really do anything. She will be stuck in Waverly, Ohio for her whole life (most likely). Another example was the people in Appalachia. People were saying how they have no pity for the mom of the family. They were wondering why she chose to become a drug addict. When there is nothing for you in the world, you resort to drugs and then you become addicted. That's it. However, Mr. Sal didn't show the movies for people to feel bad for these poor people. He simply showed the video so we can understand. Understand what it is like to live in poverty. Although there are many stories of people rising from rags to riches (I'm not saying it isn't possible for that to be done), it is very hard. A lot of times you find yourself asking "What else can I do?" You might be a child with all these dreams to go to college and be successful. Yet, by the age of 18, you have been so physically and emotionally drained that you are hopeless. So, you resort to drugs and you get pregnant. The cycle then repeats with your own children. This is why the bottom poor most likely stay that poor.