ran 1.4 miles
One recurring theme that finds its way into the news every single day from politicians and pundits alike, conservatives and progressives, is the status of the middle class. What is the middle class? It is extremely difficult to put the middle class into an income bracket. I consider myself as middle class as middle class gets, however, I know there are others who earn far more than I do or far less than I do who consider themselves middle class, as well. So who is this middle class?
In Barack Obama’s Roosevelt-themed speech in Osawatamie, Kansas earlier today he spoke of the middle class in a context that would lead me to believe that the middle class is an extremely specific and bracketed faction of America. But it isn’t. Take a try at it. Define the middle class.
One recurring theme that finds its way into the news every single day from politicians and pundits alike, conservatives and progressives, is the status of the middle class. What is the middle class? It is extremely difficult to put the middle class into an income bracket. I consider myself as middle class as middle class gets, however, I know there are others who earn far more than I do or far less than I do who consider themselves middle class, as well. So who is this middle class?
In Barack Obama’s Roosevelt-themed speech in Osawatamie, Kansas earlier today he spoke of the middle class in a context that would lead me to believe that the middle class is an extremely specific and bracketed faction of America. But it isn’t. Take a try at it. Define the middle class.
To hear Obama or Pelosi talk about the middle class always leaves me feeling as though I am extremely well-to-do, but I can assure you I am not. I live within my means, I balance my checkbook, I pay my bills, which is more than the federal government does, so does this disqualify me from the middle class?
"This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class and all those who are fighting to get into the middle class. At stake is whether this will be a country where working people can earn enough to raise a family, build a modest savings, own a home and secure their retirement."
"This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class and all those who are fighting to get into the middle class. At stake is whether this will be a country where working people can earn enough to raise a family, build a modest savings, own a home and secure their retirement."
Barack Obama
Who is the middle class, Mr. Obama? Be more specific. If I am part of the middle class, which I am pretty sure I am, the best thing you could do is to get out of the way of the progress I and others are trying to make as Americans who were born in or naturalized into this great country with the idea that governments that govern least are the best.
I am a part of the middle class and I think a very large majority of Americans believe they are a part of the middle class, too, so if you are trying to help me with your policies, thanks but no thanks. I can only speculate, but I am pretty sure nearly half of Barack Obama’s generally defined middle class is eagerly waiting for November 6, 2012, to make him a one-term president.
The latest in the news is Obama’s Payroll Tax Cut Extension and he claims maintaining a temporary cut in the payroll tax through next year is critical to our economic recovery. The big argument is the matter of where the funds come from to continue the extension. This is just the latest inevitable stalemate between Congress and the president, but what interests me is a claim that Obama made. He said, and this is not verbatim, middle class families would be paying an extra $1,000.00 in taxes each year if the extension is not made. There it is again. The middle class. Who is this middle class? If this legislation does not go through and you pay an extra thousand dollars next year in taxes then I guess that means you’re part of the middle class.
Who is the middle class? Forty-seven percent of Americans did not even pay income taxes last year. Will they be paying an extra thousand dollars? Is paying income tax a prerequisite to qualify for middle class status?
From MarketWatch here are some numbers to further confuse the definition of the middle class. In 2010:
- 99.8% earning less than $10,000 paid no income tax.
- 83.6% earning $10,000 to $20,000 paid no income tax.
- 61.8% earning $20,000 to $30,000 paid no income tax.
- 47.5% earning $30,000 to $40,000 paid no income tax.
- 35.7% earning $40,000 to $50,000 paid no income tax.
- 21.5% earning $50,000 to $75000 paid no income tax.
- 9.2 % earning $75,000 to $100,000 paid no income tax.
- 3.5% earning $100,000 to $200,000 paid no income tax.
676.7 miles to go.
Here is what happened one year ago on Day99.
