Class of America- 2003

In the essay, “Class of America- 2003”, Gregory Mantsios makes an implicit case that essentially says that the wealthy are exploiting the poor. However, he does not simply assume this. He has evidence to back it up. The data the Mantsios provides could be interpreted in different ways, but it is all in how you look at it.
The wealthy are simply using the poor for their “dirty work”, and not helping them. Mantsios says that the wealthy upper class should be helping the poor, but they don’t because the need the poor. If society didn’t have lower class citizens, then there would be no one to work at McDonalds, or to clean their houses, or make them dinner. The wealthy simply use the poor for the work that they don’t want to do. Most of the upper class do everything they can in order to refrain from giving money to the poor, including calling themselves middle class, etc…
This is an argument that could easily be made on assumptions from just looking at society. However, Mantsios has evidence and data to support his argument. He has data with numbers that explain and support his argument in a very effective manner. For example, he says that “Sixty percent of the American population holds less than 6 percent of the nation’s wealth.” This is a proven fact, and cannot be disputed. Mantsios also provided profiles of American workers, which prove their economic status. This is data that cannot be argued with, however, it can be looked at in a different light.
Like all data, you can look at it in a positive light, or a negative light. You can view the glass half full, or half empty. Mantsios looks at the data in a more negative light; however, it is also a more realistic light. You could, in theory, look at everything the opposite way the Mantsios does and say that everything is improving and there is no class difference, but then there would be no real purpose for the essay. Mantsios looks at this data in the most realistic way based on society, and the way in which it functions.
Mantsios makes a very well researched and realistic argument about class in society. He backs up his argument with evidence and observations from society to create a very believable and accurate argument about the role of class in society today.