Why Palin and Biden should think about using term 'middle class' in debate

How would each of these pedestrians on a New York street describe themselves?Gov. Sarah Palin should think twice about using the term ‘middle class’ in her vice-presidential debate with Sen. Joe Biden on Thursday, even though Sen. Barack Obama criticized Sen. John McCain for not referring to the middle class during the first presidential debate. McCain used the term ‘Main Street’ to refer to the populace.

Obama’s newest media narrative is his ability on the economy. But Gerald Prante, writing for the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, says ‘middle class’ is a term economists “[r]arely use.” Instead, they use the term ‘middle income’ and that’s still a little wiggly because that can either mean the 20 percent of households with income in the middle or sometimes, the 60 percent who are in the middle. Sounds confusing, but Prante gives a good explanation. Who, exactly, is the middle class?

The middle can mean the 20 percent in the middle—40 percent of households earn more and 40 percent earn less. This interpretation is usually, Prante says, applied in academic literature.

But others interpret the middle as the middle 60 percent, with 20 percent earning more and 20 percent earning less.

The middle 60 percent earnings range from $20,000 to $97,000.

What’s more interesting is the application we Americans use for ‘middle class.’ Prante said, “[a] recent Tax Foundation poll showed nearly 4 out of 5 Americans label themselves middle class.” Only 2 percent called themselves “upper class.”

I bring this matter up because media focuses on Obama's ability with the economy. McCain’s appropriation of the term “Main Street” is actually more accurate, at least in political terms, but there’s a social component to that usage as well.

Socially, the GOP addresses the populace as a whole, whereas the Democratic Party tends to align voters in categories by items such as race, gender and union affiliation. Simply put, McCain didn’t use the term ‘middle class’ because he chose a more accurate term and he wisely accepts that poor, rich or in between, we’re all equal. We are ‘Main Street,’ every one of us.

[Ed. note: Questions also arise about Obama's statement about lobbyists during the debate. Read a previous post about our fact check on that matter. Text and photo/Kay B. Day.]

Comments

[Geo]

Really? Main Street? Because I don't think people who are living in Hollywood, or Kennelworth (IL), or in some of the richer suburbs, where they make more than 250,000 dollars a year are in any way shape or form "Main Street." They have different values, different ideas on wealth, different ideas on how they use gas and food. They aren't Main Street, they are not middle class. You nailed it when you said middle class is between 20k and 97k. That is middle class, that is the core of the working class. That is main street.

[Kay B. Day]

I can't take credit for nailing it though--The Tax Foundation set those figures.

But I do have a different approach than you. I find good people and bad at all income levels. It all depends on the person.

What I do know--every one of us is equal under the law.

And frankly, those who make more than $250,000 get a nod from me. They shoulder more of the tax burden in this country than any other group.The Wall Street Journal did a good post on tax burdens in July.

Their Fair Share

That article really surprised me. The Census/IRS figures showed:
"The share of aggregate income received by households in the top fifth of the income distribution declined, while the shares for the third and fourth quintiles increased."

So the Bush tax "cuts" actually redistributed wealth and increased taxes for upper incomes. Rep. Charles Rangel, who chairs the Tax Committee, wants to hike taxes again, with the package he proposed last year.

Unfortunately for Rangel, he neglected to pay his own taxes.

In my opinion, the entire tax code should be scrapped, moving to a version of The Fair Tax. That tax allows for lower incomes to have relief on food and necessities. I'm sure I'm daydreaming tho.

Thanks for stopping by.