The "Middle Class" is an illusion created by Capitalism

[NZA]

middle class started in europe, not america. america itself is an offshoot of a capitalist venture. the original colonies of america had a profit incentive and african slaves and european indentured servants were brought for the sole purpose of capitalism. this is all originally a european phenomenon that outgrew its originators

 

[newworldafro]

America 2030 State of the Union.......

President Oprah Winfrey prepares her final remarks...

......"and ladies and gentlemen, in alignment with civic organizations, academia, local, state, and federal government agencies.......I want to say that.....














YOU get a UBI! YOU get a UBI! YOU get a UBI!"

.......

Finessocialism Season has Returned

 

[GnauzBookOfRhymes]

The term " middle class" is what people use to say "I'm not rich, but I'm DEFINITELY not poor". But in reality, most people are a paycheck away from sitting on the curb next to the homeless person they're looking down on. If you have to supplement your income with credit, you're closer to poor than rich.

Those people are not middle class.

Middle Class IMO would be a two income household for instance one working a middle manager position at a government agency making 70K and another who is a teacher making 60K and 2-3 kids. These people are not a "paycheck" away from being homeless. They have some savings but their expenses are relatively high due to child care costs and possibly living in a relatively expensive city. In reality, these two people - who between them may only have bachelor's degrees - are relatively comfortable in the sense that they are employable, have some savings, are paying into retirement accounts etc.

The people you're talking about are most likely those who only recently started making 50-60K, after years of making 20-30. They feel relatively "richer" because of the extra income, but the years of making shyt has left them in debt and with no assets.

My point being that just because you are dissatisfied with the soci-economic direction of the country, there is no need to wallow in hyperbole. The middle class is definitely under a lot of pressure nowadays, but it's not non-existent.

 

[Ezus Jezus]

Those people are not middle class.

Middle Class IMO would be a two income household for instance one working a middle manager position at a government agency making 70K and another who is a teacher making 60K and 2-3 kids. These people are not a "paycheck" away from being homeless. They have some savings but their expenses are relatively high due to child care costs and possibly living in a relatively expensive city. In reality, these two people - who between them may only have bachelor's degrees - are relatively comfortable in the sense that they are employable, have some savings, are paying into retirement accounts etc.

The people you're talking about are most likely those who only recently started making 50-60K, after years of making 20-30. They feel relatively "richer" because of the extra income, but the years of making shyt has left them in debt and with no assets.

My point being that just because you are dissatisfied with the soci-economic direction of the country, there is no need to wallow in hyperbole. The middle class is definitely under a lot of pressure nowadays, but it's not non-existent.

Great point. What I was getting at moreso was that the people you described and the people I described BOTH refer to themselves as middle class. They won't say they're poor and they can't say they're rich. They subscribe to the idea of being middle class more than the people you described. They live off credit. You wouldn't be able to tell the two types of people apart until you start looking at their financial records. Then you'll see how unsustainable their lifestyles are. I definitely understand your point though.

 

[EndDomination]

This sound like white people problems

Go to PG County.

 

[winb83]

Those people are not middle class.

Middle Class IMO would be a two income household for instance one working a middle manager position at a government agency making 70K and another who is a teacher making 60K and 2-3 kids. These people are not a "paycheck" away from being homeless. They have some savings but their expenses are relatively high due to child care costs and possibly living in a relatively expensive city. In reality, these two people - who between them may only have bachelor's degrees - are relatively comfortable in the sense that they are employable, have some savings, are paying into retirement accounts etc.

The people you're talking about are most likely those who only recently started making 50-60K, after years of making 20-30. They feel relatively "richer" because of the extra income, but the years of making shyt has left them in debt and with no assets.

My point being that just because you are dissatisfied with the soci-economic direction of the country, there is no need to wallow in hyperbole. The middle class is definitely under a lot of pressure nowadays, but it's not non-existent.

Making $70K a year is probably in the top 20% on income makers in the country. Probably higher than that. I'm pretty sure 50% of people with jobs make under $30K a year. Making $70K a year puts you in a great position to become wealthy especially with a dual income if you're good with money. If the household income is $130K plus a year to me that's not middle class. Middle class is a household income of probably around $50K a year for a family of say 4.

 

[GnauzBookOfRhymes]

Making $70K a year is probably in the top 20% on income makers in the country. Probably higher than that. I'm pretty sure 50% of people with jobs make under $30K a year. Making $70K a year puts you in a great position to become wealthy especially with a dual income if you're good with money. If the household income is $130K plus a year to me that's not middle class. Middle class is a household income of probably around $50K a year for a family of say 4.

130K for married couple with kids in a reasonably large city doesn't put you "in a great position to become wealthy."

Again add up child care; housing/mortgage and you're easily at 25-33% of the household's total income for the year.

50K for a family of 4 is NOT middle class.

 

[winb83]

130K for married couple with kids in a reasonably large city doesn't put you "in a great position to become wealthy."

Again add up child care; housing/mortgage and you're easily at 25-33% of the household's total income for the year.

50K for a family of 4 is NOT middle class.

As of 2014 87% of households in this country are $75K or less a year. 71% are $50K or under.
Household income in the United States - Wikipedia

Wage Statistics for 2015
70% of the workers in the country that file taxes make under $50K a year.

If you make $60K a year you're in the top 20% on income earners. At $70K you're in the top 16%.

To sum it all up on a whole the common worker don't make jack shyt really. And they raise families on that.