Marx's definition of the lumpen-proletariat are those who are flotsam in society i.e. beggars, pan handlers, con-artists, etc. people with no static base of anything in society, that other members of the proletariat possess. Now my question looking at modern society today (2010) in the u.s., other than the classical terms to which Marx described the lumpen-proletariat, could maybe the welfare class in America be considered lumpen-proletariat or are they the classical proletariat? In a hypothetical revolution would they be placed on the side of the proletariat that has gained consciousness and therefore bringing about revolution or would they lumpen-proletariat, indifferent and of no importance to the revolution?