Quote Originally Posted by Mal
If you are wealthy and don't show it then you are basically playing a game. People of your socio-economic level may act towards you in strange ways. Some may admire you if you profess to be doing it for "philisophical" reasons, and others will be somewhat beligerant since they may take your turning your back on material items as a commentary on their own avarice.
I know plenty of thrifty or downright stingy people, and many of them are quite rich. But can you say that it is a good thing in the US to be extravagant or at least care little about saving money ? Even the ultra-consumerist Japanese tend to save quite a big portion of their income, and don't mind not having a car or living in a tiny flat even if they could afford better.

Btw, Millionaires who don't work in our society are considered lazy and are looked down upon in private. People here like what they call "a self made man".
What if they become writers or (individual) researchers ? What if they organise some charities (look at the British royal family, who does'nt "work").

Infact it would be pretty scandalous to make any sort of derogatory comment about the person. For example, if they had a non cultured demeanor they wouldn't be refered to as "ignorant" or "uncouth" they would instead be called "folksy" or "down to earth".
In Europe people would be fast at criticising them. Look at someone like David Beckham, probably the most famous and richest football (soccer) player worldwide, who even got knighted by the Queen, is often looked down by the upper-middle or upper-classes as a "chav". It's also no wonder that GW Bush was so harshly criticised by so many Europeans. We just can't accept that somebody in a position of power be so uncultivated or ignorant. It conflicts with their status.

Our President is a perfect example of this:

- Inability to observe nuance becomes "principled"
- Poor manner of speaking becomes "folksy"
- Lousy rationalization abilities becomes "determined"
I guess that's mostly political correctness, especially when referring to one's own president. But most Europeans are not afraid of talking frankly about their politicians or any celebrity. Maybe that is why it becomes a scandal when an famous upper class person does something that would be ok for a lower class, but not for them (eg. swearing or spitting in public), even if they are not politicians.


The "perfect" American would be someone who

- Has a moderate education. No more than a masters, or perhaps a law degree.
- Is wealthy, preferably through running a business or has business experience.
- Dresses in a middle class fashion.
- Professed love for rural "Americana" virtues
- Attends religious services
- Talks in a plain speaking manner
And the perfect European would be like that No, I don't thing there is any "perfect model" in most European countries.