Since capitalist societies are built on the inequalities, the relations that exist between its members are also unequal. These unequal relationships are known to give rise to status of various kinds. Power status is indeed one that emerges due to the unequal relations between members of society. This status, according to Marx, is believed to be triggered by economic nature of relations, as Marx holds that it is the economic factor that drives capitalist society in any direction.
As a result of particular groups attaining successfully
amassing wealth, they turn influential. This is
because they hold a means to control people’s
lives. The richer that one is, the more powerful
s/he is believed to be. In a sense, being economically
powerful is often associated with having prestige,
such as being born into a wealthy family and attaining
the highest quality of education. C. W. Mills
asserts “To the economic facts of abundance,
the rise in real standards of living, and the
upward mobility, there was added a relatively
fluid system of deference in a rising status market”
(Mills, 1952). Therefore, to Mills it is obvious
that economic relations may not really have a
strong relation with status. However, he also
asserts, “Prestige involves at least
two persons: one to claim it and another to honor
the claim. The bases on which various people raise
prestige claims, and the reasons others honor
these claims, include property and birth, occupation
and education, income and power-in fact, almost
anything that may invidiously distinguish one
person from another in the status system of a
society”(Mills, 1952). Therefore, it
must be asserted that it is not only is the economic
factor important to determine ‘status’,
as property and birth, occupation and education
are also significant factors.
Quite evidently, categories of inequality such as economic ones and status and power, are not ones that exist in modern times; these have existed through history in other forms. Observing Marx’s Epochs, one can easily determine that inequality in society was the root cause of social change. An example of radical social change is demonstrated in the way that revolutions emerged as a result of social inequality. According to Weber, the emergence of inequalities through history emerged as a result of particular groups enjoying their existence independent of their economic status. This refers to the political influence they may have had. Here, it is worth asserting Mills’ words that describe “political consciousness” as being “most immediately determined by politically available means and symbols.” Having asserted this, it must be emphasized that the inequalities visible in American society are ones that the common man feels that he cannot do much about. This is why Mills acknowledges that people generally are disinterested in voting for their representatives; they feel it is a futile exercise or they simply do not understand or fit the process.
In addition to this, it must be said that even
the ‘white collared’ people are ones
that feel disinterested, and this is because of
the fact tat they are engaged in jobs that earn
them what they need with perhaps enough to save
for their retirements; there are few that can
truly amass wealth and become as economically
powerful as they would like to be. Hence, those
who have white collared jobs may simply be ones
that are maintained at particular strata and not
really allowed the mobility they would like, even
though they do enjoy the status of holding a white
collared job.
Considering the new deal, it may be asserted that working-class Americans today live in a reality of their own; they believe what they are told. The media too has significant effect on them, and it is in fact a tool that has been used to maintain the society in its false consciousness. The people are generally told that they will live the American Dream, but will that really materialize for every American. The harsh reality provides an answer to that, and it is one that would shock most of the middle class.
Clearly then, it can be seen that inequalities will not be removed. It is a matter of maintaining these inequalities that matters tremendously to the survival of capitalism. To strike a balance is indeed a difficult task, as there are always portions of government duty that go unattended. As far as ameliorating status and bring power into the hands of the people, one might reasonably assert that such a notion will hardly materialize. This is because economically speaking they do not really have the control they would like to. If they did, they would be economically well-off as they would like and would spend their kitchen expenses in running defense programs. |