"Middle class" means what?

If you can't recognize a reply as being germane to your last post . . . .

 

>I just don't see how tax rates are relevant to the OP which is questioning the existence of a middle class.

I see it as a psychological problem that is parallel to the "anyone can grow up to be president" problem. The kid who believes his feels good about himself but it doesn't greatly the odds. We elect one president out of 50 million potential presidents every 4 years.

Humans are terrible with statistics, probability, and risk analysis, including most PhDs.

If a person sees himself as a working stiff with little economic or political power and sees that the chasm between the working people and the real rich is almost as deep as the chasm between heaven and Hell then, if he is smart, he will see an advantage of working with like minded people for their mutual benefit to get a larger slice of the pie.

The guy who forgets that he is middle class (or worked his way into middle class) only because of the grace of God by default will think that his status is because of his hard work and/ or smarts. His sin nature (we all have a sin nature) will lead him to conclude that by virtue of his hard work and smarts that he is socially and objectively superior to the working class. He might even conclude that the working people are holding him back.

But, God or no God, some people are winners and some people are losers mostly because of their learning experiences. If a person is a winner it doesn't matter the form of government, he will do OK, and the loser will lose.

I know that a guy who works in a small business, by working harder, smarter, or longer than his co-workers, will convince his boss to give him a raise or promotion . . . he doesn't have to ask for it (as long as it is NOT a family business).

But what I DON'T see is how a guy working for General Motors or any listed company can conclude that he is better off without a union. Some other guy 2000 miles away and 4 levels up the food chain sets the wage scale for his shop and the only way he is going to move up the food chain is if his supervisor retires, quits, or dies.

>You see no substantial difference between your lifestyle and that of a sinlge mother with three kids working for minimum wage?

BIG psychological difference because of economic security reasons.

Not a big a difference in consumer goods as there was 70 years ago because the nature of poverty in the US has changed. Most people on welfare have most of the consumer goods that most middle class, even most rich people have. This is the only country in the world where poor people die of over eating. The old master artists painted pictures of fat rich people because only rich people could get enough food to become fat . . . unless you were a cook.

My father-in-law had ten times my income but I had more toys. His toys were of much higher quality and he didn't stand in line to get them.

 

>I guess I don't exist. My wife doesn't work, and stays home with our two kids. We live off my paycheck, and are quite happy. I can't just go buy what I want, and we don't borrow money...but our needs get met.

You and I exist (I think) but we are in the minority. The typical credit card holder (which is most adults) now carries a $9,000 balance.

Don't ever buy lottery tickets. If you should win it might ruin you.

 

>Sounds like the words of someone who didn't try it.

Tried what? I found a great job at the bottom of a briar patch that paid the bills and had a defined benefit pension.