Steve Thorngate's October Christian Century article, "Defining the Middle: The Rhetoric and Reality of Class," challenges readers to reconsider what middle class means and who should be included in such a group today. Based on household income data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, Thorngate argues that the current political rhetoric suggests that 83% of households are middle class. He arrives at this number by excluding those below the poverty Read More …
middle class
1 in 2 Americans = Low Income (#0581)
Over the last few days I have encountered many people talking about the same data but using very different language to do so. Some examples of what I have encountered include: 50% of Americans are now living in poverty The middle class is on its collective deathbed - people are now either wealthy or in poverty Half of the country receives food stamps or some other form of government assistance While each of these statements is false, many who proudly make the claims do so Read More …