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I think the poster who stated that it depends on what region of the country one lives in was correct. Middle income for someone living in Birmingham Alabama is completely different than a person living in NYC, San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Fe, or even Vail!
"Whining" = complaining about something that the person you're complaining to either doesn't care about or doesn't believe is true. Therefore, everyone "whines" as long as they have problems with something that someone else doesn't have a problem with, and express the basis for the problems they have. It's not a bad thing unless what you're "whining" about is a completely ridiculous thing to complain about.
And the points have been made already that the middle class is feeling the well -documented pressures of health care, education and housing costs all increasing more rapidly than cost of living adjustments would dictate. Child care costs as well, since two are working in most cases. Household income is just a part of the picture.
So it is reality. Some people want to call this "whining", certainly their prerogative. Seems a little uncaring and cold to me.
Continually blaming others, including the government that they are being "squeezed out" of whatever lifestyle they think they are entitled to is IMO whining!
Certianly entitled to your perspective. Another would be there that are real issues in society that need to be addressed. If discussing these issues equates to "whining" in your mind, then I guess people were "whining" about Hitler and Stalin when they lived under those regimes. Sometimes, I suppose then..."whining' is necessary to provoke discussion and change?
Or at what point does it no longer become "whining"?
And the points have been made already that the middle class is feeling the well -documented pressures of health care, education and housing costs all increasing more rapidly than cost of living adjustments would dictate. Child care costs as well, since two are working in most cases. Household income is just a part of the picture.
What is 'middle class'?
Define it and give the income range you think is the middle class.
Also,what else makes up the rest of the picture if household income is just part?
I see a lot of posts about the declining middle class and how the middle class is being squeezed out and I am wondering how middle class is being defined?
It occurred to me one day while driving(my time of random thoughts) that perhaps the middle class isn't shrinking in as much as it has moved upwards.
So perhaps some sort of definition or standard is needed so as to know what we are all on the same page.
So,what defines middle class to you?
I have a (pretty much useless) AA in "sociology". I always understood the "Middle Class" to be those "Too poor to quit working, but too wealthy to become desperate or angry"....Not a very scientific definition, I know--but in my mind the middle class entails hope and optimism. You have a very real shot at the "extras" in life, beyond mere survival, and there's even a chance you can become wealthy. This hope and optimism, in a MOSTLY middle-class population, makes class envy and hatred a very rare thing.
I've often picked on Wal-Mart as an example. Say what you like, but I don't define a cashier job at Wal-Mart as a Middle Class job. Such a person could never reasonably hope to buy a house or support a family on the pay they'd make there. In view of the fact that Wal-Mart has now become one of our BIGGEST employers, and has lots of "company" in its category, it isn't much of a stretch to say "the American Middle class is rapidly declining". Perhaps we could define a Middle Class job as one that would enable a worker to support a family in their own home. And I think that definition is REALLY being tested nowadays.
Just my own opinions...
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