However, day-to-day dilution from routine equity-based employee compensation and other possible dilution, such as stock-based acquisitions, will likely undermine this dual-class structure and our aspirations for Google over the very long term.

FORBES: Google's Paranoid Governance Structure Has Made It Less Innovative, Not More

The hierarchal class structure of Britain still exists and still causes injustice to millions.

BBC: Monarchy remains 'political taboo'

Google (GOOG) announced last night that it would create a triple class structure, to ensure the founders and Eric Schmidt hold on to full control of the company forever even as they use more stock for employee compensation.

FORBES: Google's Paranoid Governance Structure Has Made It Less Innovative, Not More

As a rational, liberal-minded sort of bloke, he considers the English class structure to be a piece of antiquated and retrogressive nonsense.

ECONOMIST: English snobbery

The Association of School and College Leaders has warned that confusion over its complex structure and a low take-up rate could doom the qualification to second-class status.

BBC: Heads demand answers on Diplomas

In the mid 1930s, Henry Ford and his son, Edsel, set up the two-class structure as part of their estate planning: the charitable Ford Foundation received most of the shares, but they kept a small block of Class B shares that had voting rights, thus assuring family control.

FORBES: Ford Family's Stake Is Smaller, But They're Richer And Still Firmly In Control

The dual-class share structure at News Corp gives a strong power base to Rupert Murdoch and his close allies.

BBC: News Corp asked to reform board by investors

He said his firm would put in place an "attractive" fare structure, including a 15% reduction in standard tickets and new categories of fares, including a new class between standard and first.

BBC: UK Politics

And if it is, what do mega-events like the crash of 2008 do to the class structure?

BBC: Class calculator: A US view of the class system