[SeekAndFind]

Are we better off today than we were 4 years ago?

"Yes" say the Democrats. And they're going to repeat that during the next 3 days of their convention.

[MNJohnnie]

All you have to do is compare your energy costs now to 4 years ago.

A 300% inflation in your cost of energy is NOT being "Better off".

[Opinionated Blowhard]

These are good examples to show how the middle class is declining. Sadly, way too many people think the answer is to have the “rich” subsidize the middle class or to have the “rich” pay for all these government programs. That is not the answer. The only way this country is going to turn around is if people stop expecting a subsidy and start earning their own money and living within what they earn.

[jennings2004]

But, but, His Eminence, VP Biden just told us yesterday that all was good, that the economy was buzzing and that no one was worse off in 2012 when compared to 2008...surely he couldn’t be wrong, could he? Could he...he could...just wow, who can you trust now, Dear Leader?

[Theoria]

4 years going on 40.

[ex-snook]

And the middle class won’t be better off until the return of MADE IN USA is on the items you buy.

[ladyjane]

Look at the bright side! There are millions of folks getting free housing, free food, free phones, free cars, and ATM cards that still work at the casino.

[familyop]

Nearly all of the middle class of today is getting its incomes from government or mostly from government-supported customers (services, tourism, etc.). Both political parties are supported by the middle class--one party more by federally funded local government interests, the other more by federal employment. Some members of the two sides are very polarized and partisan for their interests (federal vs. local socialism). Many of the truly wealthy folks support both sides (see contribution records).

The following will define the problem a little more in detail.

America’s Ruling Class — And the Perils of Revolution
http://spectator.org/archives/2010/07/16/americas-ruling-class-and-the/print

The Fragmenting of the New Class Elites, or, Downward Mobility
http://volokh.com/2011/10/31/the-fragmenting-of-the-new-class-elites-or-downward-mobility/

Environmentalism and the Leisure Class
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2835601/posts

The New Upper Class and the Real Reason We Dislike Them
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2843575/posts

Are you a member of the political class?
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/08/are_you_a_member_of_the_politi.html

Not much production of anything of value coming from them except for manufacturing operations in anti-American, foreign communist countries that entice with secured, luxurious, never-never land tourist reservations.

There's nothing left to take from the private sector (mostly impoverished lower class people now with number growing rapidly). There will soon be an intensifying and more obvious piranha feed of sorts between subgroups of government-funded middle class folks. They're already beginning to fight in politics, each group, to divert government funds from other groups.

If you're part of the rapidly shrinking true private sector (not government-linked), avoid unnecessary personal purchases. Become more self-sufficient each month. Learn to produce something of necessity as a hobby for now.