Summary

At one time in American society, everyone understood class. The rich took cruisers, vacationed in Europe and attended services at Episcopal churches. The Middle class drove Ford Fairlanes, settled in the San Fernando Valley and voted Democratic. They didn’t take cruises in the Caribbean.

In modern times, there are less signs of class. Most Americans enjoy luxuries and take expensive vacations. It’s more difficult to assign class from the clothes they wear, the car they drive or the color of their skin. But class is still a factor in American life. Higher education is linked to class. Although the U.S. at large is more diverse, the rich are isolating themselves. The differences in health care and life expectancy are markedly different by class. Mobility up the economic ladder that once was the dream of everyone is flat.

Class means different...