Middle of the class

摘要

For the past three years, the most successful shows on American television have been "American Idol" and "The Apprentice". This spring, millions tuned in to watch Carrie Underwood, a 21-year-old country-and-western singer from smalltown Oklahoma, win the entertainment contest and to see Bill Rancic, who put himself through university by cleaning boats, land a six-figure salary as Donald Trump's chosen sidekick. The success of these shows in America testifies to the endurance and popularity of the American Dream—the idea that anything is possible if you work at it hard enough. America's founding document declares all men to be created equal. From Benjamin Franklin, the 15th child of a can-dlemaker, to Bill Clinton, whose mother was widowed before he was born, the American creed proclaims that the ladder of success can be climbed by all. A decline in social mobility would run counter to Americans' deepest beliefs about their country. Unfortunately, that is what seems to be happening. Class is reappearing in a new form.