US Society

1. US Society • classless society • majority believe they are middle-class • system produces many winners • strong work ethic • self-reliance important • what about the losers?

2. USA Today survey – Jan. 2000

3. Problem Areas 1 inner-city problems 2 break-up of families 3 dealing with criminality 4 agreeing on gun laws 5 reducing inter-ethnic friction 6 polarisation of wages

4. Inner-city problems • White flight • wealthy move out of cities • result = less tax income for urban areas • unequal conditions • schools, health care, policing, transport etc. • higher unemployment rate in cities

5. 2. Break up of families • urban families caught in a vicious circle • increasing wealth gap • low-paid, insecure jobs • domestic friction • increase in divorce statistics • lack of (male) role model

6. Criminality • zero tolerance policing has reduced crime • but criminality still high • increase in teenage criminality • gang culture • many crimes drug related • solution - tougher penalties? • three strikes law, • increased use of capital punishment • prison population over 2m. - and rising fast

7. 4. Gun laws • gun ownership increasing • divisive issue • NRA – powerful lobby group • constitutional right to own a gun • people feel the need to protect themselves • laws vary from state to state • increasing number of massacres

8. 5. Inter-ethnic friction • salad bowl not melting pot • ethnic ghettos in cities • Hispanics - poorly paid, often illegal, problems integrating • Afro-Americans - feeling of being unfairly treated • Asians - successful minority, facing resentment

9. 6. Polarisation of wages • top 20% doing well • bottom 20% falling behind • minimum hourly wage $5.15 • increasing frustration, apathy, resentment • greater social differences = potential danger for the future

10. However!! • unemployment is low • most people are happy with their lives • more social mobility than in Europe • even for ethnic minorites • the American dream is still alive