Are you middle class?

[saveliberty]

how-to-gauge-your-middle-class-status: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

Hope you all did better than me.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

Dang. I thought 40K/year+ was considered "middle class". Well, I guess it was 10 years ago, with wages declining so fast. I guess I'm "upper lower class now"? Wonderful...

 

[California Girl]

We don't have a class based society in the US.

 

[SpidermanTuba]

We don't have a class based society in the US.

Really? Then how come the rich get to drive better cars?

 

[saveliberty]

Dang. I thought 40K/year+ was considered "middle class". Well, I guess it was 10 years ago, with wages declining so fast. I guess I'm "upper lower class now"? Wonderful...

That is what I got out of it. I guess we should get our welcome to the club notices soon.

 

[California Girl]

We don't have a class based society in the US.

Really? Then how come the rich get to drive better cars?

Hard work, achievement, luck.... but it ain't cuz of 'class'.

 

[saveliberty]

We don't have a class based society in the US.

Really? Then how come the rich get to drive better cars?

You can drive a better car too, if that is what you decide is the best use of your money. Point CaliforniaGirl is making, to me, is you are not excluded because of your class from purchasing such a good.

 

[California Girl]

We don't have a class based society in the US.

Really? Then how come the rich get to drive better cars?

You can drive a better car too, if that is what you decide is the best use of your money. Point CaliforniaGirl is making, to me, is you are not excluded because of your class from purchasing such a good.

"Class" is a term politicians use to divide citizens, because fractured groups are easier to manipulate and control than a free people. So, we have (mainly lefties) whipping up resentment against anyone who is perceived as a different 'class'. Instead of respecting the ability of all Americans to achieve by hard work and determination, those who have less are taught it is not 'fair' for others to have more. We used to respect people who worked hard. Now, apparently, we resent them. Pathetic.

 

[saveliberty]

Really? Then how come the rich get to drive better cars?

You can drive a better car too, if that is what you decide is the best use of your money. Point CaliforniaGirl is making, to me, is you are not excluded because of your class from purchasing such a good.

"Class" is a term politicians use to divide citizens, because fractured groups are easier to manipulate and control than a free people. So, we have (mainly lefties) whipping up resentment against anyone who is perceived as a different 'class'. Instead of respecting the ability of all Americans to achieve by hard work and determination, those who have less are taught it is not 'fair' for others to have more. We used to respect people who worked hard. Now, apparently, we resent them. Pathetic.

Thank you for clarifying. I agree with your view. My point in bring this up was I am working harder than I was several years ago, yet seem to be slipping according to these standards. If I am the same, what changed? I would say it is inflation.

 

[California Girl]

You can drive a better car too, if that is what you decide is the best use of your money. Point CaliforniaGirl is making, to me, is you are not excluded because of your class from purchasing such a good.

"Class" is a term politicians use to divide citizens, because fractured groups are easier to manipulate and control than a free people. So, we have (mainly lefties) whipping up resentment against anyone who is perceived as a different 'class'. Instead of respecting the ability of all Americans to achieve by hard work and determination, those who have less are taught it is not 'fair' for others to have more. We used to respect people who worked hard. Now, apparently, we resent them. Pathetic.

Thank you for clarifying. I agree with your view. My point in bring this up was I am working harder than I was several years ago, yet seem to be slipping according to these standards. If I am the same, what changed? I would say it is inflation.

Indeed, inflation is the reason why some people's standard of living is falling. But that ain't class, that's mismanaging by gummit.

 

[Skull Pilot]

Man no wonder people are broke.

My wife and I seem to live way below our means compared to the average.

 

[uscitizen]

My income is currently around 15-20k. Investment type income. My farm income pays my taxes and upkeep on the farm. And provides some good eatin.
I pay ~ 50K to my hired help plus the other taxes and such. But they get free housing and vehicle.
And major medical type of insurance, plus sick and vacation pay.
Just 2 employees a man and wife.

Middle class I am not by income, but my net worth is well over 1 mill. and I have no debts.
I have ~3/4 mill in liquid (Gold) assets and about 1/3 mill in secure bonds and such.
so no problem for the rest of my life.

 

[sparky]

Really? Then how come the rich get to drive better cars?

You can drive a better car too, if that is what you decide is the best use of your money. Point CaliforniaGirl is making, to me, is you are not excluded because of your class from purchasing such a good.

"Class" is a term politicians use to divide citizens, because fractured groups are easier to manipulate and control than a free people. So, we have (mainly lefties) whipping up resentment against anyone who is perceived as a different 'class'. Instead of respecting the ability of all Americans to achieve by hard work and determination, those who have less are taught it is not 'fair' for others to have more. We used to respect people who worked hard. Now, apparently, we resent them. Pathetic.

were America a meritocracy, you'd be right Caligal

but it's far from that

and your argument falls flat on it's face with the wall st. bailouts

that's when America openly instituted socialism for the rich, and capitalism for the rest of us

and there ain't nuthin' lefty or righty about it

~S~

 

[Avatar4321]

We don't have a class based society in the US.

Really? Then how come the rich get to drive better cars?

Really? ive seen some pretty sweet cars in some really questionable neighborhoods.

 

[Avatar4321]

And no im not in the middle class. not even close. But I will be in the Upper class someday.

 

[sparky]

MARXISTS IDENTIFY the ruling capitalist class in society by recognizing how that class owns and controls what Marx called the "means of production." The means of production are the factories, the offices, the mines, forms of transportation, etc., necessary for producing goods and services.

Those in the working class, on the other hand, don't own or control the means of producing what they would need to live. In order to survive, they have to sell their ability to labor--to work at some job for a wage, which they then use to pay for food, rent and so on.

These are the two main classes in society--the capitalist class and the working class. The relationship between them is based on exploitation--that is, the fact that the working class produces profits that the capitalist class appropriates. In between the capitalist class and the working class, and pressured by both, lies a middle class.

It's important to see that Marxists understand class as a relationship--how people are connected economically to each other and to the means of production--rather than something to do with lifestyle, or even income or status.

Also, this relationship is based on power--because control over production determines who has power over society. Thus, while some of Enron's employees had good incomes and were able to lead an expensive lifestyle, this didn't prevent them from losing their jobs and savings. Ultimately, they had little power over their conditions of work. By contrast, Ken Lay and the rest of the corporate crooks could get away with highway robbery because of their power as owners or executives in control of the company.

If you accept the Marxist definition of class, then out of the roughly 145 million people who are considered to be part of the U.S. workforce, only about 2 to 3 percent are part of the capitalist class--in the sense that they exercise substantial control over the means of production or the important institutions of society. Some 70 to 75 percent of the workforce belongs to the working class, and the remainder are part of the middle class.

The myth of a classless America

 

[uscitizen]

And no im not in the middle class. not even close. But I will be in the Upper class someday.

You just may, I see some signs of promise in you.
Luck to ya. But do not lose yourself in the pursuit.

 

[saveliberty]

And no im not in the middle class. not even close. But I will be in the Upper class someday.

You just may, I see some signs of promise in you.
Luck to ya. But do not lose yourself in the pursuit.

Wish I had said that. Nice one uscitizen.

 

[eagleseven]

Technically, I am in poverty...but it's not as bad as it sounds. As a student, I am able to keep my cost of living incredibly low.

On the bright side, I have become very good at pest-control, and at repairing ancient appliances/plumbing!

 

[sparky]

~S~