The American middle class: no longer in majority

Walter

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Some interesting facts:
  • Fully 49% of U.S. aggregate income went to upper-income households in 2014, up from 29% in 1970. The share accruing to middle-income households was 43% in 2014, down substantially from 62% in 1970.
  • In 2015, 20% of American adults were in the lowest-income tier, up from 16% in 1971. On the opposite side, 9% are in the highest-income tier, more than double the 4% share in 1971
  • The middle class made up 50% of the U.S. adult population in 2015, down from 61% in 1971.
Source: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/12/09/the-american-middle-class-is-losing-ground/

What do you think? Will this trend continue? And what does it mean for society if the middle class vanishes?
 
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It will continue as long as government stymies the economy and thereby grows the welfare state.
It could be fixed or at least it's progression slowed but loosening the death grip on dependance will likely prove impossible.
Remember Zimbabwe?
Really curious to see how europe manages it's welfare crisis. I think you boys have a better shot at turning things around. We could learn something.
Or not.
 
It will continue as long as government stymies the economy and thereby grows the welfare state.
It could be fixed or at least it's progression slowed but loosening the death grip on dependance will likely prove impossible.
Remember Zimbabwe?
Really curious to see how europe manages it's welfare crisis. I think you boys have a better shot at turning things around. We could learn something.
Or not.


It will continue as long as the government is run by the upper class. We no longer have a representative form of government, we have a Plutocracy, or an Oligarchy, resembling that of Britain in the 1600's, or 1700's.
 
It will continue as long as the government is run by the upper class. We no longer have a representative form of government, we have a Plutocracy, or an Oligarchy, resembling that of Britain in the 1600's, or 1700's.
You say "no longer", when did this change in your estimation ?
 
Long time back probably beginning with Reagan, hos "war on the middle class". Things have been going downward for the middle class ever since. Actually, Reagan sounds a lot like Trump:

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/0...ddle-class-and-came-out-smelling-like-a-rose/
Interesting. I put the establishment of oligarchy as when the Constitution was ratified. You recall who was allowed to vote ? How senators were selected ?
Who wrote the constitution ? Rich guys. Of Course They Stacked THE Deck IN THEIR favor. Don't know why I'm getting these caps. Sorry.
 
Interesting. I put the establishment of oligarchy as when the Constitution was ratified. You recall who was allowed to vote ? How senators were selected ?
Who wrote the constitution ? Rich guys. Of Course They Stacked THE Deck IN THEIR favor. Don't know why I'm getting these caps. Sorry.

And they also set up States Rights, limited the power of the Federal Government, and made it possible for changes to be made to the Constitution. Then they warned against certain things like a two party system, corporate control, the greed of politicians, etc. However, over the years, and one could say it began with the ruling of Marbury v Madison which gave more power to the USSC, and from there the rights of the people have slowly disappeared in favor of the rights of the wealthy. Politicians passed laws that took away States rights, and individual rights, and the race to the bottom was on.

Now we have a system that in no way resembles what the Founders envisioned.
 
And they also set up States Rights, limited the power of the Federal Government, and made it possible for changes to be made to the Constitution. Then they warned against certain things like a two party system, corporate control, the greed of politicians, etc. However, over the years, and one could say it began with the ruling of Marbury v Madison which gave more power to the USSC, and from there the rights of the people have slowly disappeared in favor of the rights of the wealthy. Politicians passed laws that took away States rights, and individual rights, and the race to the bottom was on.

Now we have a system that in no way resembles what the Founders envisioned.
Yup. Well its what the unsuccessful ones wanted and kept at it till cronie capitalism won the day.
 
There some who claim that the Middle Class is shrinking because they are getting rich. Really?

The Middle Class has been shrinking and will keep shrinking and this won't change because many jobs the Middle Class did will either be automated or outsourced.
 
Yup. Well its what the unsuccessful ones wanted and kept at it till cronie capitalism won the day.


So, now you are saying that the "poor" caused the rise of crony capitalism, and the redistribution of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy.

Amazing the power the poor have over the wealthy.
 
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There some who claim that the Middle Class is shrinking because they are getting rich. Really?

The Middle Class has been shrinking and will keep shrinking and this won't change because many jobs the Middle Class did will either be automated or outsourced.
Some are getting rich as they always have. Others getting poor due to the dead economy. Still others insure poorness by dropping out of school and/or getting into legal problems.
 
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