this post was submitted on 18 Nov 2024
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askchapo

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Why do u.s. politicians obsess over helping the middle class? (hexbear.net)
submitted 23 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) by dragongloss@hexbear.net to c/askchapo@hexbear.net
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Sorry for this question. I am still learning.

Something that has always bothered me is how much u.s. politicians obsess over helping the middle class. Seems like the two major parties talk about it a lot. Why do they endlessly talk about helping the middle class, but never seem to acknowledge or focus on helping the (lower?) or poverty or proletariat class?

To me it sounds like the middle class by definition should be not be as in need as other classes that don't have as much? What's the purpose of this?

Edit: Thanks for all your responses. :)

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[–] TheLepidopterists@hexbear.net 62 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

It's important to note that to an American, they're middle class almost completely irrespective of their circumstances. Single parent living in subsidized housing, working for near minimum wage? Middle class. Lower middle class, maybe, if we're not feeling defensive. McMansion, dual income family with one doctor and one lawyer? Driving expensive European cars (one for each adult, plus one for the teenager), vacationing abroad yearly, middle class, maybe, maybe, upper middle class if they're feeling embarrassed about their wealth.

Your family owns the only plumbing company in town and you have several houses a small fleet of vehicles and dozens of employees. Your surname is a local household name. The highschool gym is named after your grandpa. Sure you're prosperous but upper class? Idk, I mean listen you have to go to work, sometimes, at the sinecure your dad got you at said plumbing company. Real rich people don't have to pretend to work, right?

Everyone pretends to be middle class.