Who says we aren't happy?

Today I graduated from the Costa Rican Language Academy. I opted to bypass the graduation ceremony because Mo and I needed to work out the logistics of our excursion to Nicaragua. Carla said a lil speech in front of the class and presented me with my "diploma." Though I've completed my course of study according to CRLA's standards, I feel I still lack sufficient knowledge about life... about viewpoints... about the reality of others. Our discussion in the afternoon only gave me a taste of the "knowledge" I long to acquire. 

We read an article dealing with development in Latin American countries, specifically Costa Rica. Halfway thru the reading Carla stopped and asked us why Costa Rica was considered a third world country. She asked whether different equated to lesser. "Even though we may not have as much, we are happy. Why should financial status be valued more than spiritual and emotional well-being?" We were all silent for a few minutes. I drifted back to a conversation in Samara...

While we were walking to the beach one night, Monique and I were brainstorming about our future non-profit organization which would provide educational and vocational classes, sponsor drug and alcohol prevention programs and create numerous jobs on the beach. Another student who was walking with us laughed and made this snide remark, "If you give them good jobs, who's gonna clean our toilets and pick our fields?" 

I shared this anecdote with the class. How important are socioeconomic levels? Are these levels really necessary for a productive society? Do we need a lower class to work and a higher class to "rule" and act as motivation for the 'lower' class?