Why do we universally resent a parent ‘investing’ $500,000 for the child’s schooling, but admire the 5 RINGS OF J-LO?

WHICH IS WORSE: A CLASS FLOOR OR A GLASS CEILING?

There is a real battle over the essence of EQUALITY evidenced in the current admissions scandals.

What is a fair share?

Why do we universally resent a parent ‘investing’ $500,000 for the child’s schooling, but admire the 5 RINGS OF J-LO?

A great meme of J-LO’s RINGS is making the rounds.

There is a real battle over the essence of EQUALITY evidenced in the current admissions scandals rocking our media-verse. While a questionable member of the ONE PERCENT, J-LO and her RINGS (thank you U.S. Department of Memes @TheUSDOM) have society’s admiration of her ‘accomplishments’ contrasted with society’s disdain of the parents (and often the kids too) in the ADMISSION SCANDALS.

The different values afforded the excesses of J-LO’s FIVE RINGS and $500k for USC arise from our national identity as a meritocracy. We universally respect accomplishment gained from hard work and taking advantage of opportunity.

Here is the heart of the anger at the ADMISSION SCANDALS and why it is directed at parents and kids alike: It is the GLASS FLOOR put under those kids (even $500k for USC). Americans have a healthy and instinctual distrust of CLASS determining anything over MERIT.

Sometimes our nation gravitates toward the socialist ideal of equal OUTCOMES as a means of maintaining our pluralistic society (“Free [fill in blank] for everyone!”). For me, that’s too much. I am a believer in the RIGHT of an equal OPPORTUNITY over the mediocrity assured by state-mandated equal OUTCOMES.

The CLASS FLOOR, exemplified by the admissions scandal, is an old-world problem here in America — we are becoming a class-based society. No, I am not talking about the ONE PERCENT, they’ll always exist in their elitist circles. I have no illusions of resolving that cultural divide.

The real issue is for the top 20 percent, aka the Upper Middle Class. Unlike any other country, America’s top fifth live like the ONE PERCENT of most countries. GLASS CEILINGS may get most of the attention (sorry J-LO you’ll never break through that one), but it is the CLASS FLOORS parents put under their kids that is a bigger problem. If you are going to provide more opportunities and good neighborhoods, public schools, colleges, internship programs, and labor markets to lower-income families, it is the 20 percent that must give something up — including that “CLASS FLOOR” they put under their kids evidenced by the admissions scandal.

The absolute best description of the CLASS FLOOR is Dream Hoarders: How the American Upper Middle Class Is Leaving Everyone Else in the Dust, Why That Is a Problem, and What to Do About It by a British-born American citizen, Richard V. Reeves.

The book traces how the upper-middle class has pulled away from the middle class and the poor on five dimensions: income and wealth, educational attainment, family structure, geography, and health and longevity. The top 20 percent are not gaining like the top one percent and America’s billionaires. Still, they dominate the country’s top colleges, isolate themselves in wealthy neighborhoods with excellent public schools and public services, and enjoy healthy bodies and long lives.

Dream Hoarders identifies a clear danger of a vicious cycle developing here. As inequality between the top 20 percent and the rest grows, parents will become more determined to ensure their children stay near the top. They work hard to put a “glass floor” under their kids to prevent them from losing ground. Inequality and immobility thus become self-reinforcing.

After listing a number of reasonable efforts to equalize opportunity, Dream Hoardersacknowledges “there is much that can be done if the political will and money can be found. There will be price tags attached to some of these policies, of course, but the upper middle class can be asked and can afford to pay.”

I can’t think of a better way for America to honor its national creed of liberty and justice for all.

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