How the upper class rules the world

Thinking about this topic critically, in our global society, citizens from the richest countries of the world are largely influenced by the richest individuals of that particular country - i.e those within the political realm, the entertainment industry, oil corporations, etc.

For example, celebrities influence popular trends, such as fashion trends or popular music. Justin Bieber even had his own hairstyle, I believe.

There are many arguments about how celebrity consumed we really are as a society, or how biased we are in accordance with particular news media, but hasn't this how it has always been? The rich have always influenced the lower classes, and in many aspects of our seemingly individual and customizable lives.

So if the rich do have that influence, whether it's political or merely in what's generally popular via the entertainment industry, news media, etc., what exactly does that mean?
It might offer a few realizations in that not only have the rich set the bar high with a lavish style of living, we might also productively use the rich class as a tool for positive influence.

If the rich have a standard of living, and we have a much different standard, it's almost as if we have a subconscious or innate compulsion to achieve our own riches, and without a doubt greed must be the engine for that achievement.

If we begin dealing with these realizations, admit the current realities of our world in that we often don't think for ourselves, develop original ideas, and strive for sheer potential to reach our limits, then we may begin to change the world, and all at once.

This generation of youth is the first to experience a global generation of youth, where the dissension among the youth between countries is at all-time low. As today's youth are the leaders of tomorrow, there will be a gradual yet significant adjustment to foreign affairs in the future, and perhaps, for better or for worse, we should be careful not to rule anything out.

Many probably maintain the idea that at this point in time, circumstances will not only get worse, but they will be nearly impossible to change. Perhaps they will get worse, but if so, then the issue switches to how the global society may progress perpetually to keep up with a potentially expedited downfall.

There might be a seemingly hidden possibility to bring about change, however, and right beneath our noses in that Hollywood, for example, might have a sufficient amount of influence to potentially empower the majority population - i.e the lower classes. Nearly everyone watches movies and/or television. As kids we watched Disney, and kids are still.

What if there was a hit song across the world that targeted poverty, and it compelled many around the world to donate whatever they could muster, and billions were raised for the maintenance and development of third world counties?
What if altruistic films were most popular, or even foreign films and would promote tolerance for diversity as opposed to vampire films, teen slasher films, comedies, etc.?
What if the video games played by the youth were about learning how to be significant in our time, and in all areas considered, as opposed to the fantasy and shooting games that are grossly popular?
Could South Park be as funny if they depicted actual facts to teach the TV show's audience rather than promoting crude humor, especially among the youngest audience?
It all comes down to our integrity, what we're willing to accept and remain satisfied with in striving for our personal and global progress, how hard we're willing to be on ourselves, how many times we can accept defeat in the face of our own pride and greed and what it is we're dreaming about.

If only the entertainment industry was philanthropy based. It would not only fix the backward disparity, but teach new ideas, as opposed to what it stands for now with its loose canon spending and poorly-substantive orientation.

I suppose the trick is to not be ignorant, and to realize the rich do have nearly unlimited power and influence over the lower classes. With this, the majority may one day lead comprehensively with the most upper class and ultimately exist among only one singular class.

Every break from work, such as the upcoming summer, is a chance to be free of mind and utilize the imagination, but the only way it can be productive is if it is for progress.

Josh is a senior majoring in history.