Rich+poor now outnumber the middle class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks Obama - you're making the poor poorer - good job on keeping voters dependent on other taxpayers.

Cause cutting marginal tax rates and increasing defense spending would surely eliminate this problem -- which predates even Bush II.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HAH! Could you imagine if 300k was middle class? She must believe 99.99% of the country is destitute.

You mean per person in a dual income family, right? If 300k was the total for the WHOLE FAMILY then I don't see how they could get by. It's simply not possible unless they have no kids and live in a trailer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks Obama - you're making the poor poorer - good job on keeping voters dependent on other taxpayers.

Cause cutting marginal tax rates and increasing defense spending would surely eliminate this problem -- which predates even Bush II.

Typical Liberal response - never take responsibility.
Obama had 7 years to fix it but his policies made the rich richer and the poor poorer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks Obama - you're making the poor poorer - good job on keeping voters dependent on other taxpayers.

Cause cutting marginal tax rates and increasing defense spending would surely eliminate this problem -- which predates even Bush II.

Typical Liberal response - never take responsibility.
Obama had 7 years to fix it but his policies made the rich richer and the poor poorer.

But but but Bush did it. No congress, no Donald Trump, wait it was the Koch Brothers. Yea, that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks Obama - you're making the poor poorer - good job on keeping voters dependent on other taxpayers.

Cause cutting marginal tax rates and increasing defense spending would surely eliminate this problem -- which predates even Bush II.

Typical Liberal response - never take responsibility.
Obama had 7 years to fix it but his policies made the rich richer and the poor poorer.

You forget that for the last six years, Congress has stopped every attempt he has made in trying to fix it. Do continue to allow your politics to get in the way of reality

[Anonymous]

Why do these threads always dissolve into very vocal people with 200+ HHIs insisting they are not "rich" and are "only middle class" because of the cost of living in this area. Who cares. We are talking about national level issues here folks.

This study concerns me. The shrinking of the middle class only puts forth the potential for more social instability.

Right now policy seems to lean towards more people getting college degrees to "grow" the middle class. It seems to me that currently this policy has only led to skyrocketing college tuition and ever-increasing student loan debt.

I think it should lean towards job creation in skilled areas (both white collar and blue collar). As well as thoughtful discussions about salary structures within corporations, and access to affordable healthcare and housing.

I don't pretend to know what the best plan is, but sticking my head in the sand and declaring that I am middle class because I can't buy a mcmansion in Bethesda on my $260,000 HHI is not looking at the reality of growing incoming inequality in this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do these threads always dissolve into very vocal people with 200+ HHIs insisting they are not "rich" and are "only middle class" because of the cost of living in this area. Who cares. We are talking about national level issues here folks.

This study concerns me. The shrinking of the middle class only puts forth the potential for more social instability.

Right now policy seems to lean towards more people getting college degrees to "grow" the middle class. It seems to me that currently this policy has only led to skyrocketing college tuition and ever-increasing student loan debt.

I think it should lean towards job creation in skilled areas (both white collar and blue collar). As well as thoughtful discussions about salary structures within corporations, and access to affordable healthcare and housing.

I don't pretend to know what the best plan is, but sticking my head in the sand and declaring that I am middle class because I can't buy a mcmansion in Bethesda on my $260,000 HHI is not looking at the reality of growing incoming inequality in this country.

To be honest the average income of many Bethesda neighbors exceeds 400k putting you in middle class status for that area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do these threads always dissolve into very vocal people with 200+ HHIs insisting they are not "rich" and are "only middle class" because of the cost of living in this area. Who cares. We are talking about national level issues here folks.

This study concerns me. The shrinking of the middle class only puts forth the potential for more social instability.

Right now policy seems to lean towards more people getting college degrees to "grow" the middle class. It seems to me that currently this policy has only led to skyrocketing college tuition and ever-increasing student loan debt.

I think it should lean towards job creation in skilled areas (both white collar and blue collar). As well as thoughtful discussions about salary structures within corporations, and access to affordable healthcare and housing.

I don't pretend to know what the best plan is, but sticking my head in the sand and declaring that I am middle class because I can't buy a mcmansion in Bethesda on my $260,000 HHI is not looking at the reality of growing incoming inequality in this country.

To be honest the average income of many Bethesda neighbors exceeds 400k putting you in middle class status for that area.

You missed her point completely. PP, excellent point about how the focus on college degrees is only increasing the student loan debt and not actually increasing the middle class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do these threads always dissolve into very vocal people with 200+ HHIs insisting they are not "rich" and are "only middle class" because of the cost of living in this area. Who cares. We are talking about national level issues here folks.

This study concerns me. The shrinking of the middle class only puts forth the potential for more social instability.

Right now policy seems to lean towards more people getting college degrees to "grow" the middle class. It seems to me that currently this policy has only led to skyrocketing college tuition and ever-increasing student loan debt.

I think it should lean towards job creation in skilled areas (both white collar and blue collar). As well as thoughtful discussions about salary structures within corporations, and access to affordable healthcare and housing.

I don't pretend to know what the best plan is, but sticking my head in the sand and declaring that I am middle class because I can't buy a mcmansion in Bethesda on my $260,000 HHI is not looking at the reality of growing incoming inequality in this country.

To be honest the average income of many Bethesda neighbors exceeds 400k putting you in middle class status for that area.

You missed her point completely. PP, excellent point about how the focus on college degrees is only increasing the student loan debt and not actually increasing the middle class.

"College for everyone," yet another of Obama's failures...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks Obama - you're making the poor poorer - good job on keeping voters dependent on other taxpayers.

Cause cutting marginal tax rates and increasing defense spending would surely eliminate this problem -- which predates even Bush II.

Typical Liberal response - never take responsibility.
Obama had 7 years to fix it but his policies made the rich richer and the poor poorer.

You forget that for the last six years, Congress has stopped every attempt he has made in trying to fix it. Do continue to allow your politics to get in the way of reality

What???? You mean when the Democrats controlled the House AND Senate for those YEARS, they blocked his attempts the fix the income inequality?
Again - blame everyone but the guy who deserves it. Typical - but then again Liberals are know to not being very open minded to FACTS when they differ from their rose-colored belief in reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks Obama - you're making the poor poorer - good job on keeping voters dependent on other taxpayers.

Cause cutting marginal tax rates and increasing defense spending would surely eliminate this problem -- which predates even Bush II.

Typical Liberal response - never take responsibility.
Obama had 7 years to fix it but his policies made the rich richer and the poor poorer.

You forget that for the last six years, Congress has stopped every attempt he has made in trying to fix it. Do continue to allow your politics to get in the way of reality

What???? You mean when the Democrats controlled the House AND Senate for those YEARS, they blocked his attempts the fix the income inequality?
Again - blame everyone but the guy who deserves it. Typical - but then again Liberals are know to not being very open minded to FACTS when they differ from their rose-colored belief in reality.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do these threads always dissolve into very vocal people with 200+ HHIs insisting they are not "rich" and are "only middle class" because of the cost of living in this area. Who cares. We are talking about national level issues here folks.

Right now policy seems to lean towards more people getting college degrees to "grow" the middle class. It seems to me that currently this policy has only led to skyrocketing college tuition and ever-increasing student loan debt.

The problem with this policy is much of the funds go directly to the college and in many cases they unwisely spend those funds rather than lowering tuition. You'll see enrollment numbers remain near the same while the college builds more and more. More academic buildings, more student housing, more athletic facilities, etc. You would think enrollment doubled or tripled thus causing a need for more college infrastructure. On top of enrollment numbers leveling off you also have online courses becoming more prevalent and also lowering demand for physical structures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do these threads always dissolve into very vocal people with 200+ HHIs insisting they are not "rich" and are "only middle class" because of the cost of living in this area. Who cares. We are talking about national level issues here folks.

This study concerns me. The shrinking of the middle class only puts forth the potential for more social instability.

Right now policy seems to lean towards more people getting college degrees to "grow" the middle class. It seems to me that currently this policy has only led to skyrocketing college tuition and ever-increasing student loan debt.

I think it should lean towards job creation in skilled areas (both white collar and blue collar). As well as thoughtful discussions about salary structures within corporations, and access to affordable healthcare and housing.

I don't pretend to know what the best plan is, but sticking my head in the sand and declaring that I am middle class because I can't buy a mcmansion in Bethesda on my $260,000 HHI is not looking at the reality of growing incoming inequality in this country.

First post in this 4-page thread that is right on. The middle class disappearing is a real problem. I agree that job creation is key ... but how? Change our labor policies so that the cost of goods/services here competes with 3rd world countries? Seed money into the economy to stimulate spending and create demand for local goods/services? Change tax policies to create incentives for innovation and business risk (start-ups)?

Fwiw - HHI here of $250K, feel well-off but not rich. I'd say the entry end of upper class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks Obama - you're making the poor poorer - good job on keeping voters dependent on other taxpayers.

Cause cutting marginal tax rates and increasing defense spending would surely eliminate this problem -- which predates even Bush II.

Typical Liberal response - never take responsibility.
Obama had 7 years to fix it but his policies made the rich richer and the poor poorer.

You forget that for the last six years, Congress has stopped every attempt he has made in trying to fix it. Do continue to allow your politics to get in the way of reality

What???? You mean when the Democrats controlled the House AND Senate for those YEARS, they blocked his attempts the fix the income inequality?
Again - blame everyone but the guy who deserves it. Typical - but then again Liberals are know to not being very open minded to FACTS when they differ from their rose-colored belief in reality.

Okay now you ad just silly. The demos controlled congress for a year or two under Pelosi. The Dems never had the sixty required majority votes under Reid, just like the Republicans currently do not have the sixty majority votes under McConnell. The difference is that the Dems are working with McConnell whereas all thee Repubs wanted to do was filibuster under Reid. So no Einstein, the Dems did not control the senate for two years. But nice of you to conveniently misstate reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, not to deny it, but they considered the rich to be 126k and above. 42k-126k was middle class. So that could skew the numbers somewhat. In this area 126k doesn't buy you as much as it would in rural America.

Regardless of what you believe it buys "in this area", you have to understand that the middle class incomes in this area (both mean and medium) are below 100k.

Right, and they are poor.