While many Americans viewed themselves as practical people prior to the publication of Edward Bellamy's "Looking Backward," I believe that the book had so many supporters because the ideas that Bellamy offered to Americans were beyond practical. It was more than just a simple life. More than just carefree society. While there were still rules and regulations to be followed as in times before, Bellamy's idea of the future was particularly inviting for the people of middle and lower classes. A person of upper-middle class or someone considered to be wealthy may not have appreciated a society with such simplistic ideas or ways of life. Also with the idea of "status" in a community being revoked many people of upper social classes may have felt offended that family names would not go on to present them of a high social standing. However, more than status or simple ways of living attracted people to Bellamy's ideas. The idea of credit cards, shops that carried all the essentials, meals made by people outside the home, equal pay for every type of employment, and being able to retire from industrial employment at the age of 45 was a real perk for someone living in Bellamy's future society.
             Credit cards in this society gave new meaning to the ideas of spending and receiving one's salary. The idea of the cards was brilliant in that they made it so much easier for a person to carry around. Rather then having to carry around cash and change and rummage through purses and pockets in order to pay a vendor they could simply pull out the card and have it punched for the goods they received. This would have also save for embarrassing moments when a person might not have enough money to pay for the items that they need. If need be they could always dip into the next years credit if they really needed something.
             This brings us to the next idea of simplistic living that Bellamy speaks of. ...