Come on, that's not an outrageous salary. Seriously. No sacasm in my reply.
How far down do you want the middle class to go? God forbid someone should earn enough money to afford at least a modest home, put their kids through college, eat out at a restaurant without it being a luxury.
If there are any federal functions that actually provide me a service, it is the post office.
I agree, $48K is chump change. I imagine plotting a career as a full-time welfare recipient pays nearly the same. You get what you pay for.