Originally posted by: ricarleite
Some economists claim, although I partially disagree, that by creating a strong middle class you also create a strong lower class. The richer the middle class is, the better conditions will be created for a lower one. But the mere existence of a class of people who will be deprived of what the society may offer and are REQUIRED to exist so this society can exist is the main proof that capitalism can never, ever generate a perfect society. On the other hand, socialism can, but only teorically, as it goes against the main nature of human beings - at least, most of them.
Some economists claim, although I partially disagree, that by creating a strong middle class you also create a strong lower class. The richer the middle class is, the better conditions will be created for a lower one. But the mere existence of a class of people who will be deprived of what the society may offer and are REQUIRED to exist so this society can exist is the main proof that capitalism can never, ever generate a perfect society. On the other hand, socialism can, but only teorically, as it goes against the main nature of human beings - at least, most of them.
Class systems are not soley the product of capitalism, and no system can eliminate "menial" labor as a means of substaining society as a whole. H.G. Wells was a big time socialist, and foresaw this in The Time Machine when he wrote about the Morlocks and Eloi. Utopia may exist on the surface, but the great "unwashed" will always be the ones stoking the furnaces.
NOTE: Check out my post in the Politics thread with the Wiki link about Socialism. I think it's fascinating reading.