https://www.businessinsider.com/what-it-takes-to-be-middle-class-middle-income-wealth-2024-5
"If we admit that we're very class-based — which we really are — that reveals the uncomfortable truth that we're not as democratic as we like to pretend to be, which is the heart and soul of this country," he said. "If we're not truly democracy, then what are we? That's the whole justification for creating this country."
Citations Needed has a great episode about the phrase "middle-class". "It’s a capitalist carrot hovering over our heads telling us such things are possible if we Only Work Harder. More than anything, it's a way for politicians to gesture towards populism without the messiness of mentioning––much less centering––the poor and poverty." https://citationsneeded.libsyn.com/episode-91-its-time-to-retire-the-term-middle-class
I know I listened to that one but I need to revisit. It always bothered me anyways because it seemed like a way to (falsely) elevate yourself above 'lower class'
Yeah everyone thinks they're "middle class" because in the US the poor are trained to think aspirationally and the rich are trained to downplay the exploitative source of their wealth.
I like how the upper class response is larger for people making less than $10,000/yr than any other bracket until you hit $150,000