[kingu]

Let's see... Middle class stuck with the same wages that they had during Reagan's time. Minimum wage has nearly doubled in most states in that same period.

Middle class benefits have decreased since the Reagan years, and drastically increased for minimum wage earners.

The qualification for household income for government assistance has more than tripled since the Reagan years, and of course, middle class households do not need to bother looking.

A ‘household’ who earns 18,000 a year with two kids (nevermind if one or both of the adults (or more adults) are earning wages under the table) can land nearly $32,000 a year in benefits (health insurance, vision, dental, food stamps, cash assistance, WIC, rent assistance, low priced cable, telephone, internet, electricity, gas...) That pushes them up into nearly median household income, and once you add in the under the table wages, pushes them straight into the middle class.

Meanwhile, taxes for everything have gone up, and of course, legislatures across the country want to raise it even futher.

[cherry]

the lower paid people where I work are just GLEEFUL at tax time because they know they'll get a nice $5000 check from me and the other taxpayers...

but the rest of us have to usually pay an accoutant, pay him, then pay the taxman as if what they take out each paycheck isn't enough...