[proxy_user]

" It will be interesting to see if the Times series can spark a new round of class warfare—if not between the lower and upper classes, at least among the chattering classes.

Since the chattering classes ARE the top fifth, and since they know how they got their money, I doubt if they will be terribly impressed by these arguments. They are liberals, but they're not fools, and they're not going to give up their Lexus and McMansion.

[Republicus2001]

NO WAR!

(except class warfare)

[SoDak]

I wonder if he book will mention that over 70% of the millionaire class are 1st generation rich?

[goodnesswins]

Oh, REALLY......I think of "class" as someone of refined manners, who thinks, speaks, and acts intelligently, kindly, sincerely....kind of like Laura Bush......

[Archidamus]

Class is what the New York Time ain't got.

[sixmil]

Between 1979 and 2001 the real income of the top one percent of households ($700,000) increased 139 percent, while the income of the middle quintile ($43,700) increased just 17 percent and the poorest fifth rose by only nine percent.

I'll play devil's advocate here and say that household income used to comprise one salary where as nowadays it is more like two. I'd be curious to see the numbers for individuals.