Boy, Sorcha, by that definition, I'd sure have a hard tome classifying the Shrub et al as "upper class!" *BG* I was always told one is bred with class, it can't be bought...so there were a lot of rich folks who might be wealthy, but they sure didn't have class! Upper class to us always meant well-educated, well-mannered, gracious, and, if lucky, also having money.

In the olden days, my great-grandma lived out here years in her house. She had an agreement with the little town she lived in; they made sure she had the care she needed until she passed on, she deeded the hosue and land over to them, to take effect upon her death.

Whatever happened to parents saving up, having a home place for their kids to grow up in and inherit? I know parents don't "owe" their kids such, but I personally think if a parent wants to help a kid out by passing on their home, etc. there should be a way to do that without having it taken away as an asset. We've all, presumably, paid into Medicare/Medicaid all of our working lives, so why would we then have to give up everything we've ever worked for, in order to rely on the government insurance we've paid for? Seems to me as though people are being penalised for working hard all of their lives. Guess we still live in a kingdom after all, huh?

kat