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applegrove

(118,767 posts) Mon May 11, 2015, 10:04 PM May 2015

As Middle Class Fades, So Does Use of Term on Campaign Trail

As Middle Class Fades, So Does Use of Term on Campaign Trail

By AMY CHOZICK at the NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/us/politics/as-middle-class-fades-so-does-use-of-term-on-campaign-trail.html?_r=0

"SNIP...............

Hillary Rodham Clinton calls them “everyday Americans.” Scott Walker prefers “hard-working taxpayers.” Rand Paul says he speaks for “people who work for the people who own businesses.” Bernie Sanders talks about “ordinary Americans.”

The once ubiquitous term “middle class” has gone conspicuously missing from the 2016 campaign trail, as candidates and their strategists grasp for new terms for an unsettled economic era. The phrase, long synonymous with the American dream, now evokes anxiety, an uncertain future and a lifestyle that is increasingly out of reach.

The move away from “middle class” is the rhetorical result of a critical shift: After three decades of income gains favoring the highest earners and job growth being concentrated at the bottom of the pay scale, the middle has for millions of families become a precarious place to be.

A social stratum that once signified a secure, aspirational lifestyle, with a house in the suburbs, children set to attend college, retirement savings in the bank and, maybe, an occasional trip to Disneyland now connotes fears about falling behind, sociologists, economists and political scientists say.

..............SNIP"

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As Middle Class Fades, So Does Use of Term on Campaign Trail (Original Post) applegrove May 2015 OP

I sure see a lot of middle class this and middle class that and it pisses me off progree May 2015 #1

"I agree with Bernie. Focus must be on helping America's middle class" - HRC progree May 2015 #3

That's because Clinton and Walker helped the fade happen (nt) bigwillq May 2015 #2

Same thing happened to the words ''the Poor.'' Octafish May 2015 #4

progree

(10,912 posts)

1. I sure see a lot of middle class this and middle class that and it pisses me off

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue May 12, 2015, 06:20 PM

May 2015

For example:

"I'm not running against Hillary Clinton. I'm running for a declining middle class." -Bernie Sanders

How about the declining lower class? Everything I've seen about inequality is that the bottom income quintile is suffering the largest percentage income loss of all quintiles. This in addition to being in the lowest quintile in the first place, for Chrissake. In other words, those who can least afford to lose are losing the most.

As to why it pisses me off, it leaves out the plight of lower income people -- as if it is politically inexpedient to bring them up, because there is apparently a perception that they are a bunch of low life bozos and "takers", etc. and expressing any sympathy or concern for them is going to lose us the vote of the wonderful rock-rib solid American Middle Class who made this great country of ours great blah blah blah,

So yeah, if Democrats broaden their concerns beyond middle class this and middle class that and middle class here and middle class there -- then that is great news to me. And I'm middle class, very probably upper middle in net worth. So its not like I'm some envious and resentful "low-lifer" whose mad that the middle class gets all the attention.

progree

(10,912 posts)

3. "I agree with Bernie. Focus must be on helping America's middle class" - HRC

Reply to progree (Reply #1)

Tue May 12, 2015, 11:03 PM

May 2015

Last edited Wed May 13, 2015, 11:20 AM - Edit history (1)

My favorite Google hit for "Hillary Clinton Middle Class":

Hillary Clinton on Twitter: "I agree with Bernie. Focus must ...
https://twitter.com/hillaryclinton/status/593838843889065984
Apr 30, 2015 - I agree with Bernie. Focus must be on helping America's middle class. GOP would hold them back. I welcome him to the race. –H.

One need only Google on phrases like:
Hillary Clinton Middle Class
and
Bernie Sanders Middle Class
and
Elizabeth Warren Middle Class

to see that the middle class is the focus of Democratic campaign rhetoric.

And all I hear on progressive talk radio is "middle class" this and "middle class" that. Endlessly.

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)

2. That's because Clinton and Walker helped the fade happen (nt)

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Tue May 12, 2015, 06:21 PM

May 2015

Octafish

(55,745 posts)

4. Same thing happened to the words ''the Poor.''

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Thu May 14, 2015, 08:34 AM

May 2015

Hey! What a coincidence.

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