Tell Us: Are You a Member of the Middle Class?
This election is about the middle class. Yet, how many of us feel that our station in life is defined by our income?
There was a fisherman on the Cape, one of my former neighbors, who lost his uninsured boat in a storm. He ended up losing his house and moved his family in with his father-in-law. This man, once the captain of his own boat, now worked two jobs: one as a garbage collector and the other as a newspaper delivery guy.
One day while we were chatting and looking out at the Sound he said, "I barely have two nickles in my pocket to rub together, yet I feel as if I am a millionaire. I have the best family in the world. Nobody is going to tell me I am a member of the lower class."
What is the middle class, upper class, lower class, exactly?
America was founded as a democratic society where class was not important and people could move freely among the classes.
Yet, in this election, both President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, keep defining the middle class, mostly using salary as a measurement.
President Obama defines the middle class as household income up to $250,000.
Mitt Romney defines middle income as household income between $200,000 to $250,000.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports median income, the midpoint for the nation, is a bit over $50,000.
Does earning power determine our class? Can you make middle class wages and have an overgrown lawn and cars on cement blocks in your yard? Can you be living paycheck to paycheck, yet have children attending ivy league schools? Can you be rich, loaded to the gills with dough, yet living on a trust fund, never having worked a day in your life? How does that make you a member of the upper class?
Tell us your thoughts on class and income in the comments. And, if you identify as a member of the middle and working classes, do you think anyone in politics on the national stage is fighting for you?
Deanie
12:21 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2012
This election is on the economy & now the Middle East! NOT a War on Woman or Middle class. Cheif Warren wants us to be "More like China!" & they have NO middle class! If Obummercare is implimented there will be over 47 taxes to take effect that have nothing to do with Health & the rationing will begin when we are considered "UNITS" & people over 70 will be evaluated as to wether they can be treated !! That is a FACT! Our Gas is out of control & getting worse, incomes down, millions out of work & now the USA downgraded AGAIN with ANOTHER stimulas and printing money that will NOT stimulate anything! The first two did NOT work..it went to companies that went Bankrupt! There is two choices..Socialism (Communism) or Capitalism (which made this country great!) ! Where are the private sector JOBS!! Think about our kids future and if you want them to have one & keep the American Dream alive!!
Mel Cross
12:41 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2012
Obama is desperate, he is campaigning through the schools, trying to get the teacher's to convince the kids to spread his message mother parents...........
There were plenty of jobs added this quarter, says the media...........not telling they are all paying 9.00 per hour
Michael Muggeridge
6:03 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2012
"Clients" added to the food stamp rolls outnumbered the pathetic numbers of private sector jobs created according to the August jobs report. BHO is well on his way to destroying the middle class.
Bruce Stuart
8:57 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
Middle "Class" is related to lifestyle, not income
Carolyn J Puleo
10:15 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
I must say, you are all right!
Steve Pitney
9:10 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012
The middle class is getting 'hammered', not by Wall St or Lobbyists, but by Obama & his minions with higher taxes (Obamacare 47+ new taxes and fees) and the Fed inflationary policies QE ie printing money. This does not create jobs, only leads to stagflation like in the Carter years. The resuklts are a 'sugar high', which does not last. That's 'demand-side'. A more sound policy is 'supply-side', which reduces tax rates and increases the value of the dollar, allowing the middle class to buy more. Combine this with less regulation, companies are more willing to hire.
Common media lies:
We have inflation in the necessities of life such as food, fuel, which is conveniently left out of inflation figures, so inflation is under-stated. Food has increased by more than 10% per year and gas has more than doubled in the last 4 years or about a 30% a year increase. More and more people are statiscally removed from the employment rolls (called participation rate or PR), so that unemployment figures are under-stated. If the PR were the same as 4 years ago, the unemployment rate would be over 12%.
The media do not want the dems to lose, so they lie for them. They don't want to miss out on the DC party scene.