A Shift in Our Society

A Shift in Our SocietyIn the past, political leaders used social issues as a tool for advancing their political and economic agendas. Today, the use of social issues as a tool for advancing personal agendas has declined. Instead, politicians use social issues to motivate their political base. What is this phenomenon and why is it changing?Society was once divided by class. People had distinct sets of values and lifestyles that defined their social standing.As a result, there were several professions that people pursued. The most common professional occupations in a capitalist society were the professions of lawyer, dentist, engineer, teacher, clergyman, accountant, business person, priest, doctor, writer, lawyer, president, merchant, teacher, etc. There were others, but the ones mentioned are the ones we are most familiar with. It's as though we learned from our parents, 'If you want something, you work for it.'So society was divided by class and divided by profession. When people co uld afford to buy a home or car, they were then able to build their own identities based on profession. But as an increasing number of people today cannot purchase their homes or cars, our society is more divided than ever.In a society that is no longer divided by class, it has become increasingly difficult to justify our spending patterns based on family circumstances or how we might like our children to behave. This is because today we live in a society where people have many competing priorities. They want the same things we do, but they also have other obligations.We all know wealthy people who can pay thousands of dollars for expensive clothes. We also know wealthy people who are overweight, eat unhealthy foods, don't exercise, etc. The difference between these two groups is wealth and habits.If you want to know about socioeconomic issues, simply read the headlines in the papers and watch what your friends are doing. There is a major shift underway where those who are able to g o through life without having to worry about their material possessions are the ones who benefit most. The same is true of the world of politics.