There is nothing wrong with being "working class" but I don't see why you think that means "never striving to better yourself."   I think it is very meritorious to be skilled at a craft or trade, however I do not see anything meritorious about complacency.   If one does not strive to better himself, what is the point of getting up every morning?\

The contrast between  East and West Germany pre-unification is about all the evidence you need of how much "better" government socialism is able to run and economy then capitalism can.