[Who dat?]

''Manufacturing industries allowed America to have a middle-class life for the working class,'' said Barry Bluestone, an economist at Northeastern University. In most cases the displaced workers will be hard pressed to duplicate the wages and benefits they had before.

It’s funny; “middle-class.” Actually, in almost any other country in the world, someone that had air conditioning, running water, electricity, multiple TV sets, Nintendo, computer, refrigeration, several cars, indoor restroom, telephone, washer and dryer, pension plan, AND medical insurance, would be considered part of the elite.

We have people that were born on welfare that have most of those things and they’re considered disadvantaged.

Maybe “middle-class” refers to low-class people that are used to getting high-class compensation and are entirely ungrateful for it.

[knowtherules]

Bingo

[Willie Green]

Maybe “middle-class” refers to low-class people that are used to getting high-class compensation and are entirely ungrateful for it.

Can't have "low-class people" aspiring for upward mobility, can we?
That'd be entirely un-American.
Gotta knock 'em all back down into poverty where they belong.
Screw 'em all! Let's bring hunger and starvation back to America!
Yep, that'll teach those ingrates!
</sarcasm>

[A. Pole]

It’s funny; “middle-class.” Actually, in almost any other country in the world, someone that had air conditioning, running water, electricity, multiple TV sets, Nintendo, computer, refrigeration, several cars, indoor restroom, telephone, washer and dryer, pension plan, AND medical insurance, would be considered part of the elite.

Poland (from where I came) is not very afluent and with the exception of air conditioning (you do not need it because of cooler climate) and multiple cars (one is enough as public transportation is everywhere and there is less space for parking) those things will not qualify you for the elite.

I guess you think that the right standard for America is India or Congo. How many countries did you visit?