The Now Rich and the Old Rich
Though it is
mere 1 to 3 percent of the population, the upper class possesses at least 25
percent of the nation’s wealth. This class has two segments: upper-upper and
lower-upper. Basically, the upper-upper class is the “old rich”—families that
have been wealthy for several generations and aristocracy of birth and wealth.
Their names are in the Social Register, a listing of acceptable members of high
society. A few are known across the nation, such as the Rockfellers, Roosevelts,
and Vanderbilts. Most are not visible to the general public. They live in grand
seclusion (深居简出), drawing their income from the investment of their inherited
wealth. In contrast, the lower upper class is the “new rich”. Although they may
he wealthier than some of the old rich, the new rich have hustled(急于做)to make
their money like everybody else beneath their class. Thus their prestige is
generally lower than that of the old rich, who have not found it necessary to
lift a finger to make their money, and who tend to look down upon the new
rich.
However its wealth is acquired, the upper class is very,
very rich. They have enough money and leisure time to cultivate an interest in
the arts and to collect rare books, painting, and sculpture. They generally live
in exclusive areas, belong to exclusive social clubs, communicate with each
other, and marry their own kind — all of which keeps them so distant from the
masses that they have been called the out-of-sight class. They also command an
enormous amount of power and influence here and abroad, as they hold many top
government positions, run the Council on foreign relations, and control
multinational corporations. Their actions affect the lives of
millions. |
