Are you part of the middle class?

[piasabird]

Middle class is a myth. People make what they make. It should be adjusted based on where you live.

 

[MrColin]

Americans don't have "classes" because they have minimal barriers to move from one wealth category to another, from one social category to another, through their own good efforts.

Total BS.

 

[cybrsage]

Huffington Post. Has all the trustworthiness of Wikipedia without any of the supporting links.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

By the way, the exact quote is:

"No, middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less" (source, quote from Yahoo news article). So do you still stand by your statement?

Semantics aside, this is a really stupid way to phrase this. $200,000 to $250,000 and less... Why not just say $250,000 and less? It means the exact same thing. In fact, throwing "and less" in there at the end makes the "$200,000" part completely irrelevant and needlessly confusing. If I'm looking for an apartment, I don't say that I'm looking for a place for $1,200 to $1,500 or less, I just say $1,500 or less. The "or less" functions as setting your low range to 0, so defining a low range at the beginning ceases to have meaning.

That said, anyone who looks at "middle income" as a range that goes up to $250,000 is deluding themselves about the definition of "middle." If being in the top 97% of all earners still qualifies as "middle," that word is effectively useless. Going the other direction, this means that a family that makes $2,500 a year is also middle class, since they're around the third percentile. Is anyone willing to argue that?

 

[Wreckem]

Get a grip. 200-250k and under is indeed middle class depending on where you live. As already stated he said "200-250 and under". That is fucking spot on accurate.

Median income is 50k you say? That doesn't make you middle class in NYC, or San Fran... It makes you poor.

"$200-250K" is in the top 5%. Its not middle class. Most don't even consider it upper middle class but there is no real definition.

 

[blankslate]

According to Governor Romney I am not part of the middle class.

Although if I was I'd try to live on $100k a year at most and put away the rest.

 

[Jhhnn]

"$200-250K" is in the top 5%. Its not middle class. Most don't even consider it upper middle class but there is no real definition.

It's just about the top 2-3%. People who work to earn that kind of money aren't Rich, or middle class, but very much upper class. People whose incomes at that level are derived strictly from investment are best considered rich, because they have net worth of several $M.

Certain locales are havens for the upper class, they live there by choice, whether that's Manhattan or San Francisco or any of the others. Poor people don't live there. That's why the idea of adjusting for locale is erroneous. People making $250K live basically the same lifestyle in Denver as they do in Manhattan. They're just more concentrated in Manhattan. If you're in the middle of the pack in Pitkin County Colorado, you're riding the gravy train.

The opposite is also true. There's not much difference between making poverty wages in New Mexico or California, either. If you're in the middle of the pack in Mississippi, you're basically in the middle of nowhere.

 

[spidey07]

Thankfully, no I am not in the middle class. Any dual income professional household should be well over the 200-250k mark. I tend to agree that the 200-250 and under income range is middle class. That's two working parents, or a dad bringing home the bacon for mom and family.

Most of my co-workers wifes don't work and don't have to. That's middle class.

 

[MovingTarget]

Thankfully, no I am not in the middle class. Any dual income professional household should be well over the 200-250k mark. I tend to agree that the 200-250 and under income range is middle class. That's two working parents, or a dad bringing home the bacon for mom and family.

Most of my co-workers wifes don't work and don't have to. That's middle class.

Dual income professional households should be over the $200k mark? Ha! I wish. Most "professionals" that I come in contact with would kill to be making six figures each. The financial security that allows for one spouse not to work is damn near unattainable for most Americans these days.

 

[mect]

I love threads like these. It really helps to split out the partisans from those that are willing to actually read and think.

 

[spidey07]

Dual income professional households should be over the $200k mark? Ha! I wish. Most "professionals" that I come in contact with would kill to be making six figures each. The financial security that allows for one spouse not to work is damn near unattainable for most Americans these days.

Then they're doing it wrong. I honestly would have a hard time finding professionals in my neighborhood, circle of friends and collegues, etc that are making less than that.

 

[Jhhnn]

Thankfully, no I am not in the middle class. Any dual income professional household should be well over the 200-250k mark. I tend to agree that the 200-250 and under income range is middle class. That's two working parents, or a dad bringing home the bacon for mom and family.

Most of my co-workers wifes don't work and don't have to. That's middle class.

That's really upper class in modern America, Spidey. Few median income homes have single earners.

The Cleavers don't live here any more.

Truly middle income families have been getting squeezed down-

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/13/us/us-incomes-dropped-last-year-census-bureau-says.html

So, uhh, you go, Job Creators! You go!

 

[lotus503]

Then they're doing it wrong. I honestly would have a hard time finding professionals in my neighborhood, circle of friends and collegues, etc that are making less than that.

I'd bet my middle class income, your proximity to a trailer park is closer than your proximity to 200k a year.

But hey it's the Internet, we can all pretend to be well off.

 

[spidey07]

I'd bet my middle class income, your proximity to a trailer park is closer than your proximity to 200k a year.

But hey it's the Internet, we can all pretend to be well off.

I'll take that bet. What are the terms? How much do I win?

Do you have any idea what I actually do and what market rate is for my skills and experience?

 

[Todd33]

I'll take that bet. What are the terms? How much do I win?

Do you have any idea what I actually do and what market rate is for my skills and experience?

$50k/year, basic IT or something I bet. Something where a white 50ish year old tea bagger can get so much access to the net all day.

 

[Slew Foot]

Then they're doing it wrong. I honestly would have a hard time finding professionals in my neighborhood, circle of friends and collegues, etc that are making less than that.

Same here but all of my friends are doctors.

 

[emperus]

Actually this is the exact phrase and question he was answering. Pay attention to the "No".

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Is $100,000 middle income?
MITT ROMNEY: No, middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less. So number one, don’t reduce– or excuse me, don’t raise taxes on middle-income people, lower them. Number two, don’t reduce the share of taxes paid by the wealthiest. The top 5% will still pay the same share of taxes they pay today. That’s principle one, principle two. Principle three is create incentives for growth, make it easier for businesses to start and to add jobs. And finally, simplify the code, make it easier for people to pay their taxes than the way they have to now.

 

[Pray To Jesus]

obama will win for sure

no doubt about it