[Just mythoughts]

And despite the vile taste that idea puts in my mouth, we still do a FAR better job of it than Mexico. Mexico has a GDP of over $1 trillion. Their per capita income is 10% above the global average. The problem is that a handful of families take the majority of it, and use it to maintain their position by buying police and politicians.

Welllll, look at our political upper class, our economic upper class, educated upper class, and last but certainly not the least, our religious upper class. So the trend we are taking seems to be more about emulating Mexico's method of operation than encouraging Mexico to be 'compassionate' to its own citizenry.

[Teacher317]

How can you equate the (unavoidable) existence of an upper-class with the idea that our upper class skews the rules too far in their favor?

Of course, EVERY upper-class group will try to entrench themselves... that's human anture. The problem is how much assistance they get from the laws of the land. Upward mobility is easier here than in any nation on earth. I don't see many indications of laws that prevent others from joining the upper-crust club... or that protect the foolish rich from falling on their arses. Heck, I've never seen any reports on this idea, but I'd be willing to guess that America has the greatest percentage of wealthy folk who migrate downwards, as well.