As a capitalist nation, the United States social structure is based on socioeconomic conditions. The society is divided into the upper class, middle class, and the lower class. The upper class is primarily composed of the elite as described by C. Wright Mills in his concept known as the power elite. According to Mills, the upper class in society has power that cuts across the corporate, political, and military arenas. At the extreme end includes the lower class that can hardly make ends meet. In contrast, societies such as Russia have traditionally favored the communist system that advocates for the communal ownership of property thereby limiting the emergence of social stratification.
Social stratification remains a significant aspect of American history. More so, it has given birth to the emergence of another social trait known as individualism. In this dispensation, each person, in their social structure, is only concerned their individual goals and aspirations rather than the collective ones. The recent years have seen the increase in privatization especially in the public sector, a factor that has contributed to the immense class difference between the upper class and the other social classes. More people are now concerned with their welfare more than ever before given that society has been shaped to advance individual goals and aspirations.
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The men and women that prevail in society today are capitalists because of the power and influence they possess. It is also vital to appreciate that the system of meritocracy has since faded away with the system now favoring influence over competence. As such, those climbing the social order and leadership positions in the corporate and political scene are not necessarily competent but rather influential. It is in this regard that mediocrity has since been witnessed in various areas of leadership including the national governance.
