I Don't Think 'Middle Class' Means What Politicians Think It Means

Since you can't go two minutes in this accursed election season without being bludgeoned over the head with a middle-class-themed talking point, I thought it would be a good idea to take a step back and provide a little perspective on what the political status quo seems to think the middle class is. The big picture might surprise and/or horrify you.
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Mansur Gidfar More from Mansur »

Since you can't go two minutes in this accursed election season without being bludgeoned over the head with a middle-class-themed talking point, I thought it would be a good idea to take a step back and provide a little perspective on what the political status quo seems to think the middle class is. The big picture might surprise and/or horrify you.



Sources

Steve Peoples, "Romney: 'Middle-income' is $200K to $250K and less." The Associated Press, Sept.14, 2012.

George Stephanopoulos, "Full Transcript: George Stephanopoulos and Mitt Romney." ABC News, Sept. 14, 2012.

Carmen DeNavas-Walt, Bernadette D. Proctor, and Jessica C. Smith, "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States." United States Census Bureau, Sept. 2012. (PDF)

Phil Izzo, "What Percent Are You?" The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 19, 2011.

"US Poverty Rate to Hit Highest Level Since 1965, Economists Say." CNBC News Desk, Jul. 23, 2012.

"Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines." Department of Health and Human Services, Jan. 20, 2011.

"Measuring Child Poverty." United Nations Children's Fund, May 28, 2012. (PDF)
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