General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: They once inhabited a vast swath of North America but their numbers have been greatly reduced [View all]bhikkhu
(10,730 posts)and its good that we have added 38 million to the upper income class since 1970 (depending on how one feels about wealth - most people work toward that, and that some have gotten it is ok with me).
Where the problem really lies is that the lower income class has grown from 50 million in 1970 to 92 million in 2015. That's not good, and a more progressive government should do better. If there is enough wealth in the US to so grow the upper classes, there is enough to do better for those that have less.
I've teetered on the lower end of the middle class most of my life, and currently am doing fairly well. My problems have been making enough money to keep my house in order and save for retirement - middle class problems. Lower income problems are having enough food to eat, affording a place to live, keeping a vehicle running to be able to get to work, buying clothes and school things for kids. Those are problems I'd rather see focused on.