The United States is turning into a country of haves and have-nots with the majority of Americans falling in the middle. American history and government issues, especially prisons and schools, have a vital impact on widening or closing the gap between rich and poor. Numerous unfortunate Americans live in conditions that resemble those of a third world country, with horrible living conditions and few “mom and pop” business opportunities. Half of black Americans are poor, but most poor individuals are not black. In Congress, white politicians cater to the interests, at the expense of prejudice, of poor white voters to encourage new laws that collectively inconvenience low-wage individuals. There is more public funding in prison than in schools and further education. This begins to create a trend where the rich enjoy the private school education they can afford, while the poor enjoy their time in prison. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The lower class or “those living below the poverty line” are exemplified by poverty, begging, and unemployment. Americans in this class have lower educational attainment around high school and below grade level. They experience the negative effects of a lack of good healthcare and a safe, clean and spacious living environment. They also suffer from substandard clothing and school education. The media regularly belittles the lower classes by portraying them as penniless individuals, as welfare families who continue to have children without stable employment. They also label them as threats to society, criminals and drug addicts. Laborers or “blue collar workers” often suffer from a lack of decent education and often take part in labor-intensive jobs that put a strain on their bodies. Working class workers are often dishwashers, clerks, housekeepers, and waiters who often do not have the opportunity to be promoted due to their level of education. There are more lucrative working class jobs such as carpenters, handymen and electricians who are often called specialists. These workers may be able to earn more than some middle-class jobs, but at a higher cost. Their services are often very dangerous, undesirable and very physically demanding. Middle class or “white collar” workers hold the majority of American jobs. Most people in the United States fall into these categories, but varying degrees of middle class exist. These workers often work in an office and have more money on hand than the lower class, but not as much as the upper class. The less educated middle class is often made up of bosses, entrepreneurs, teachers and secretaries. On the other side of the middle class working spectrum are highly educated individuals. Most of these workers have completed college education and earn higher-than-average wages. They are often engineers, legal consultants, stockbrokers and CEOs. The middle class is generally divided into two sections, the lower middle class and the upper middle class. The lower middle class includes those who have “new liquidity” or liquidity recently gained from new businesses and jobs. These are workers who come from first-generation college students and immigrant families. They may come from poor or working class families. The upper middle class.