Lower Middle Class VS Upper Middle Class
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Anonymous
Oh, please. Stop with the Bashing of the Working Class. Here are my observations: 1) LMC places more emphasis on family relations. Frequent get-togethers with family and extended family over the holidays. Family will rally around you when you are in trouble, no questions asked, in sickness and in health. It's just done that way. UMC, OTOH, tend to be more dysfunctional in familial ties, and it is not uncommon that money is more valued that family relations. As a matter of fact, money is often times the basis for cut ties. The richer you are, the more dysfunction, rising to filing lawsuits against your parents, etc. 2) LMC college graduates, on average, are smarter and more talented than the typical UMC college graduate. As a hiring matter, coming from the same alma mater, it is better to hire the LMC graduate. You can bet they are just more qualified, since it took more to get to the same place. 3) Both groups have members that like road trips, Disney, and gambling, so I disagree with you here. 4) UMC' logos are invitations to the right parties, whether your help is live-in, and how many, how many vacation homes you have, etc. LMC' logos is a goddamn purse with a bunch of C's on it. Which one is the the more foolhardy? Hard to say. Everyone is susceptible to logos, PP. Have you ever sat in on a bunch of UMC's chatting over coffee? If they're not bitching about some women, they are bragging about their stupid European vacations. Intolerable. I'm sure you have your "logos" as well. 5) But the bottom line: LMC's wedding receptions are JUST MORE FUN. I have never been to a LMC's wedding where they did not have an open bar, and a generous top shelf. Good music. Some uncle or barely legal niece making a drunken fool of themselves and having a ball. I have been to some UMC's weddings where I saw they chintzed out on details for the guests. Cheap asses. 'Course, the best are the private parties of the very rich, but then, that's not what we're talking about here. I am the Cheese Lady, and I tell it like it is. |
Anonymous
Shorter PP: The mindsets of the lower middle class, working class, and upper middle class are pretty similar. It's just that the upper middle class has a whole lot more money. |
Anonymous
Clap, clap, clap 
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Anonymous
*takes bow* Thank you. The Cheese Lady has seen much, experienced much, and has come to conclude that we are not that different, just in superficial ways that seem to blindside some people. And everyone deserves love from each other, even across class lines. |
Anonymous
I like you, Cheese Lady, but I don't think you get UMC. 1) The distinction between LMC and UMC families ties seems a little self-serving. I've seen plenty of disfunctional LMC families, the reason they are LMC is because neither parent can hold down a job. I also think the divorce rate and the rate of unwed moms is higher in LMC. Not judging, just saying. 2) LMC college grads aren't necessarily smarter, because there's a lot of research showing IQ and verbal skills are correlated with family SES. 3) UMC looks down on Disney. Vegas is OK for bachelor parties, but an UMC wouldn't want to plan a normal vacation around it. 4) UMCs to compete on vacation, but it's an exagerration to say they brag about "vacation homes" in the plural. It takes upper class to have "vacation homes" in the plural. And your snipe about cattiness crosses class boundaries, just look at yourself sniping at UMC women.... 5) I agree with you! LMC wedding receptions are more fun! Although many LMC weddings feature over-dried fried chicken catered by the mother-of-the-bride's BFF (I've choked down some of that stuff) and no alcohol. |
Anonymous
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Hmmm. Can't some of you figure out that "LMC" folks may have different savings strategies, educational approaches, etc based on their incomes and backgrounds? If my parents had more money, they would've probably had different investment strategies. But they didn't, so they chose the most conservative path. Regarding schools, my parents did not go to college, so they were less skilled in guiding me along the application process. That doesn't translate, however, into they didn't care about what I was doing or they placed less value on it, just only that they lacked a background in the area. It takes a village to raise a child and life can be a lot more forgiving - and less expensive - if your relative, who live around the corner, are able to cover for you during times of crises.
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Anonymous
I stand corrected. I am not from an UMC background myself, although I now have entree and freely go in and out of it. I may have conflated some upper class characteristics with UMC. However, I don't think there is any family out there who will not start to fight, brother against brother and father against son, if a shitload of money wasn't dropped on them. People behave due to their circumstances, not due to some innate immutable characteristic. We are all the same. I have nothing but love for my UMC friends. No offense intended. I just, well, I just didn't like that TJ Maxx swipe! The Cheese Lady is on a path of continuing life education, and she thanks you for your clarification. |
Anonymous
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I like you, Cheese Lady, but I don't think you get UMC.
1) The distinction between LMC and UMC families ties seems a little self-serving. I've seen plenty of disfunctional LMC families, the reason they are LMC is because neither parent can hold down a job. I also think the divorce rate and the rate of unwed moms is higher in LMC. Not judging, just saying. Really? They are LMC because neither parent can hold down a job? Clearly you are completely unfamiliar with how the minimum wage in this country is not a living wage. You are not judging, but you are also not informed about the ever increasing upward spiral of income inequality in this country, especially over the last 30 years. 2) LMC college grads aren't necessarily smarter, because there's a lot of research showing IQ and verbal skills are correlated with family SES. Again, really? While there may be a correlation between IQ/verbal/SES, that doesn't mean there is a causation. PP, you may not be aware but the most talented person doesn't necessarily need to be the smartest, but a combination of many factors, including drive and emotional intelligence. I prefer hiring folks from state schools as I find them to be hungrier, hard working, and more seasoned than many Ivy grads I've encountered over time (even if I am one). 3) UMC looks down on Disney. Vegas is OK for bachelor parties, but an UMC wouldn't want to plan a normal vacation around it. And again, really? You must not get around Upper NW DC much. Sometimes I think we are the only UMC family who has not been to Disney or Vegas. 4) UMCs to compete on vacation, but it's an exagerration to say they brag about "vacation homes" in the plural. It takes upper class to have "vacation homes" in the plural. And your snipe about cattiness crosses class boundaries, just look at yourself sniping at UMC women.... 5) I agree with you! LMC wedding receptions are more fun! Although many LMC weddings feature over-dried fried chicken catered by the mother-of-the-bride's BFF (I've choked down some of that stuff) and no alcohol. Meh, whatever. Who cares if they serve alcohol? It is their wedding, not yours. |
Anonymous
What does he say when you ask if the pants you put on makes you look fat? |
Anonymous
I am not a sociologist, but.... Black people walk like this; but white people walk like this! 
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Anonymous
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Angry PP sez:
Again, really? While there may be a correlation between IQ/verbal/SES, that doesn't mean there is a causation. PP, you may not be aware but the most talented person doesn't necessarily need to be the smartest, but a combination of many factors, including drive and emotional intelligence. I prefer hiring folks from state schools as I find them to be hungrier, hard working, and more seasoned than many Ivy grads I've encountered over time (even if I am one). The Cheese Lady sez: PP, you are in good company--the Great Alan Greenberg who led Bear Stearns to greatness always said he preferred to hire PSD's--those who were Poor, Smart, with and Deep desire to be rich. Great minds thinks alike! Don't hate the other PP, PP. He meant no harm. This whole thread is set up to hurt people's feelings, no matter who you are, if you emerge. |
Anonymous
Not so. I grew up low income (Pell grantee) and we bought an older home in Bethesda - typical center hall colonial, built in the 30s. |
Anonymous
As someone who grew up lower class and now am upper middle -- yes, you nailed it. |
Anonymous
Where do you get your research from? I really would like to know. A childs intelligence and verbal skills are not related to family income or social economic standing. A lot of lower income people are raising their child bilingual. That itself is a huge advantage the wealthy do not have Sarah Palin spent $250K on her wardrobe during the presidential campaign and her daughter had a baby out of wedlock |
Anonymous
You are wrong. My boss went to Bullis and tells everyone how expensive the school was, and that he went there. But he attended the state university. Maybe the parents just did not want to pay for an ivy, but he could have gotten to the state university from a public school as well I know another girl with a very rich father. A divorce meant he did not need to pay for her college. |