Posted on 12/09/2015 3:04:07 PM PST by Theoria
Americans have long lived in a nation made up primarily of middle-class families, neither rich nor poor, but comfortable enough.
This year, that changed, according to the Pew Research Center.
A just-released analysis of government data shows that as of 2015, middle-income households have become the minority. The trend is so firmly established that it may well continue; Americans have experienced "a demographic shift that could signal a tipping point," Pew researchers concluded Wednesday.
Thanks to factory closings and other economic factors, the country now has 120.8 million adults living in middle-income households, the study found. That compares with the 121.3 million who are living in either upper- or lower-income households.
"The hollowing of the middle has proceeded steadily for the past four decades," Pew concluded.
And middle-income Americans not only have shrunk as a share of the population but have fallen further behind financially, with their median income down 4 percent compared with the year 2000, Pew said.
So what exactly does it mean to be a middle-income family?
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
No, it was your corrupt government representatives that did this, not the USA.
I don’t disagree.
Obama has incessant told us that anyone making over $250k is evil and “rich,” and should be taxed to death. He later modified that number to $200k. (Later to be modified much lower, when he finds out how much money he needs to implement socialism.)
My dad and I bitterly argued NAFTA when it was the new and shiny thing that had just passed. He was all stoked on the global economy, and I thought it would take away American jobs, independence, and substitute shoddy, inferior products for our own. Unfortunately, it was one of the few times at that age when I was right, and he was wrong.
What on earth do public schools have to do with this???
Enlighten me.
.
Well, I’m Israeli.
So they are YOUR corrupt government representatives.
We have our own corrupt government representatives. ha.
We were warned many times about “Free trade” from the insiders who all became wealthy from kickbacks, bribes and insider payoffs.
Look at middle America now.
The Marxist commenters at the National Communist Radio site are entertaining, though.
There is little class mobility hence a shrinking middle class. The majority of the rich are now overeducated liberals who vote in their kind and overregulate and overtax the rest of us.
Obama’s economic policy = trickle up poverty.
BS! Nearly anyone who wants to can get ahead and move up in income, in spite of onerous taxation.
Correction:
We were warned many times about “Free trade” and the insiders who pushed it and all became wealthy from kickbacks, bribes and insider payoffs.
Look at middle America now.
You’re right. Americans are woefully unprepared for the workforce. It is probably the single biggest factor in the decline of the middle-class. That and completely idiotic government policies.
I bet that 21% includes some of the traditional middle class. Liberals are always massaging numbers.
There is little class mobility...
BS! Nearly anyone who wants to can get ahead and move up in income, in spite of onerous taxation.
You did it, and I did it. But the reality it is a lot harder today for those coming behind us. Not so much taxation but regulation and other things.
There is even certification for burger flippers now days.
http://foodhandlercardtraining.com/il.html
I am glad I grew up when I did......................
The Great Obama Depression continues to ravage what used to be workers in America
as a smaller percentage of Americans can afford to shop in ‘regular stores’ like Sears, JCPenneys, etc, these companies will continue to feel the pressure from their shrinking demographic
and as all the ‘new jobs’ have gone to immigrants (statistically speaking), more and more of what used to be our productive labor pool will be forced to sign up for the dole/welfare/food stamps/EBT cards/ObamaPhones/Public Housing/etc.
Here is the key paragraph that should have been quoted:
“Bottom line: For a household with three people, being middle class means making between about $42,000 and $126,000. If your family of three makes less than $42,000, then you are in the lower class. If your family brings in more than $126,000, you are in the upper class.”
A household income of $64K is therefore the median.
But there are many flaws in this methodology. It doesn’t take taxes or living expenses into account, or regional variations, and doesn’t account for wealth. If you earn $60K but own your house outright, you are much better off than the guy paying a huge mortgage.
Furthermore, many people have other money coming in that is not listed as income on their tax returns for various reasons.
It is really hard to say. Everybody knows their own dodges to minimize their official income while living well, but the economists are blind to them.
Yeah, I saw that too.
Correct me if I’m wrong here on so something else I see: that the graphs show the lower class remaing somewhat constant while middle and upper class together have expanded as population has grown. That would seem to be evidence of upward mobility, showing middle class moving to the lower end of upper class, while lower class is moving into the lower end of middle class.
But at a quick glance the graph doesn’t appear to show that, since it juxtaposes middle class on one side against combined upper and lower class on the other.
Please, please research the origins of “public schools”.
I know a lot of parents are very well intended, but unaware.
The public school system has been almost completely infiltrated with godlessness beyond comprehension.
(even un-americanness (did I make up a word?) should you be so inclined to be more of secular leanings).
On another FR thread, FReepers would be all over you like white on rice.. Just sayin’.
Just please, wake up..
youtube John Gatto. He will “splain” all you need to know.
Public schools make people STUPID!!!!
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