What does it mean to be 'working class'?

Lower middle class are wage workers....

low class = benefit claims etc etc.

low middle - cleaners, cashiers etc etc
upper middle - generally on salaries .

I was just making it relevant and showing the comment to be both patronising and ridiculous.. Marxism is generally just as bad as religion in what it creates in the fundamentalist follower or impressionable disciple. It's an interesting academic concept, but in the wrong hands is a dangerous ideology - sometimes even as dangerous as religion - so I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea about that comment!!

Good point. I think when you tear Marxism back to the point that Marx was making on an academic level it is a very valuable piece of work and one that founded a branch of Sociological theory and thought.

When used in its purest form it is harmless and could lead to a truly communist state following a revolution if you believe what Marx stated. Sadly though as people have observed this is not the case and it is wrongly used as a tool for communist dictatorships and wrongly accused as a justification for such states.

He should have read plato more carefully - if he had he would have realised that the flaw in all 'utopian' ideals is that they fail to cater for humanities two worst attributes; greed and imagination.

Quite possibly but was Plato not referring to humans as individuals and Marx society?

I don't think it matters which Sociological society model people favour or believe is closest to reality as it can never account for individual behavior. I mean Marxism aside if you look at the Functionalist model and the issues surrounding meritocracy it only works as far as peoples desire and life chances therefore the whole model is as flawed as those observed in Marxist theory.

The best thing I ever heard said about communism was from a bloke in a pub. He said "Communism is great until your neighbour tries to nick your T.V. because he wants two"

A lot of it is cultural aswell as work and education. The class system still exists and you can change class.

The theory is if you are working class but smart you will eventually move into the middle class through education and earnings.

The sad thing is that all the interesting ones died... Now only the boring useless ones (such as myself) are left. Actually I don't know that - I am in such poor contact with my dad that I have no idea which members of my welsh family are still alive and don't really care enough to get in contact!

To be fair though if any of your family are from anywhere near Bridgend of Pontypridd (or anywhere in the valleys to be honest) we're probably fairly closely related (bless our nations breeding habits )!

Lol, sure you're interesting enough
I've got family all over the world but not in contact with any of them. Know what you mean.

Tragically, my family's London Welsh but we reckon it was originally from Caernarfon. Chances of us being family are slim but I don't mind!

Ah well... I'd rather be from North Wales; more interesting countryside.

Nice one
I was up at Cwm Idwal and Betws-y-Coed/Swallow Falls on Sunday and I went to Loggerheads, around Moel Famau today. Absolutely stunning.
What's the south like anyway? I only really visit Cardiff

Pembroke is not really very wales like (except it rains ALL the time) - it's more like dorset or devon (i've been cliff walking there all weekend - gorgeous other than the rain). The Gower is also very pretty and the Beacons & Black Mountains are good for newcomers to hiking. The Valleys and eastern part of south wales I don't particularly like; the buildings are cheap and badly build, and because of the lack of jobs it's a very poor and run down area of the country. Would be beautiful if there were no people...

Personally not too keen on cardiff, but that's only because it's got no hills! It's far nicer than any other town in the region - especially Newport!

Don't they call Pembroke "Little England" or something? Seem to recall.
I've always wanted to visit the Gower, seen it on TV and the like and it seems fabulous.
I've heard the Valleys can be rough. Rhyl isn't exactly a beauty spot either

Cardiff seemed nice to me but I prefer the country side.