1855 Destruction of Classes.

In reading the songs of occupations, it brought forward ideas of class struggles that are reiterated through it history from serfdom, to slavery, to children in the industrial revolution to now. What is the now? To me, the struggle is not so much rich between poor because whether or not he has a dollar more then me, there will always be a difference in wealth. The struggle i see, remains between the citizens of our country and those in politics and they main use the conflict or idea of classes to promote a party system. Party system in place, the striving for equilibrium creates a hierarchy of people with not only wealth, but power to manipulate the laws to their own benefit. And that my friends is everyone who works in washington.

More so, that bullshit aside, Whitman is preaching more so about tearing down all walls and picket fences that separate one neighbor from another and this fence can most easily identified as a class struggle, though any difference whether it by style of clothing, to occupation, anything that creates a niche or club or group, that is what he is trying to bring forth.

"Were all educations practical and ornamental well displayed out of me, what would it amount to?
Were I as the head teacher or charitable proprietor or wise statesman, what would it amount to?
Were I to you as the boss employing and paying you, would that satisfy you"

These lines say what the hell does it matter what i do or you do or how smart you are compared to me, (because this man was obviously brilliant and divine.) He is trying to break down these invisible walls so we can all hug and smoke a cigarette together and shoot the shit. And most importantly not shooting the shit against anyone.

In comparison, to various iterations of this poem:

Workmen and Workwomen!

Were all educations, practical and ornamental, well          displayed out of me, what would it amount to?

Were I as the head teacher, charitable proprietor,
         wise statesman, what would it amount to? 

Besides evolving elipses to dashes and lines to verses with enumeration, his vision evolves with the zietgeist of the times. Versions tend to include the struggles of those that are becoming more apparent more rejected. Whether it be women or native americans or immigrants, he includes these in revisions so that they encompass all. Kind of like building a wiki up more as things are brought to light. yeah. like that.