Hereditary class structure at work

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By DAVID BROOKS
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST

In his inaugural address, President Bush embraced the grandest theme of U.S. foreign policy -- the advance of freedom around the world. Now that attention is turning to the State of the Union address, it would be nice if he would devote himself as passionately to the grandest theme of domestic policy -- social mobility.

The United States is a country based on the idea that a person's birth does not determine his or her destiny. Our favorite stories involve immigrants climbing from obscurity to success. Our amazing work ethic is predicated on the assumption that enterprise and effort lead to ascent. "I hold the value of life is to improve one's condition," Abraham Lincoln declared.

The problem is that in every generation conditions emerge that threaten to close down opportunity and retard social mobility. Each generation has to reopen the pathways to success.

Today, for example, we may still believe American society is uniquely dynamic, but we're deceiving ourselves. European societies, which seem more class-driven and less open, have just as much social mobility as the United States does.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/209803_brooks.html

[idlisambar]

1. All right, so he is concerned about social mobility

So what does he suggest doing about it? As a Republican columnist he should realize that he, himself is partially to blame.