Cav's Place

Somebody told me a while back that 20 years ago it seemed like everybody was middle-class, but today it seems like nobody is anymore. She was talking about the US, but the issue of a missing middle-class applies everywhere, the only difference being that in many places in never really existed in the first place.
I’m talking about a middle-class from the strictly financial point of view and all I mean to do in this post is define what I understand by that term, since some are likely to compare the people who can get by with those who can’t make ends meet and say there is a middle-class after all. And, in order to put it into perspective, I’ll also define what I understand to be the other four classes from a financial point of view, making comparisons on a number of issues.

The very poor face serious problems regarding putting any kind of food on the table. They can’t afford to pay for medical care and are therefore severely hampered or even killed by health problems which could normally be cured.
Housing is a serious problem and they’re often found living in cramped, unsanitary conditions. They often have to do completely without most utilities, such as safe drinking water or electricity, because they can’t afford to pay for them. They can’t afford appliances and gadgets, though sometimes they can be found using salvaged and potentially unsafe equipment.
They generally rely on walking for transportation, unless they’re somehow able to hitch a ride for free. Decent new clothes and accessories are virtually unheard of.
Free time is usually at a premium, as simply managing to survive is a full-time job. Recreational activities are simple, as their options don’t include doing anything that costs money or buying things that are not absolutely necessary for survival. Travelling for leisure is out of their reach.

The poor can put some sort of food on the table, but they have to make their choice more according to price than according to how healthy and nutritious it is. They might be able to pay moderate fees for medical care and buy some medicine, but this requires great sacrifices and therefore they’ll usually look for cheap alternatives at the expense of quality.
Housing may be somewhat of a problem as too many people may need to share a residence and their houses or apartments are probably not in the best repair. They often have to be very restrictive in their use of utilities, such as heating or electricity, because their finances are stretched too thin. They can rarely afford appliances and gadgets and when they do they have to choose according to price instead of quality, therefore often ending up using outdated and potentially malfunctioning equipment.
They generally use cheap forms of public transportation where these are available, walking or trying to catch free or cheap rides elsewhere. Affording decent new clothes when they need them requires sacrifices and purchasing anything but the cheapest accessories is a serious problem.
Free time is usually at a premium, as they’re often looking for another way to earn some more money in order to help make ends meet. Recreational activities are relatively simple, as both their time and finances are more needed for other things. Travelling for leisure usually takes the form of visiting friends or relatives, though they might be able to afford a few other trips every so often, but they have to work within extremely tight budgets and therefore the possible destinations are limited and the accommodations will be poor.

The middle-class are able to put healthy, organic food on the table and follow a balanced diet if they so choose, though exotic foods or eating in good restaurants will be reserved only for the most special of occasions, if even then. They can afford decent private medical care and follow reasonably-priced treatments, though more expensive procedures might send them looking for financing, especially if they’re on short notice.
The purchase and maintenance of reasonable housing where each has enough personal space may require sacrifices, but it is an attainable goal for those who plan well. They can afford to make good use of utilities, such as heating or Internet access, in order to live comfortably. They can afford decent appliances and gadgets, which they can maintain properly and replace at reasonable intervals, though the purchase of high-end equipment may require sacrifices.
The purchase and proper maintenance of decent automobiles may require sacrifices, but it is certainly possible for those who plan well, though some will prefer to use public transportation, walking or biking for various reasons such as poor traffic conditions or environmental concerns. They can afford decent new clothes and accessories when they need them, though expensive items will be reserved only for the most special of occasions, if even then.
They enjoy a reasonable amount of free time, not needing to tolerate being overworked. Both their time and finances allow for recreational activities that vary according to personal tastes, though there is a reasonable upper limit when it comes to this. Travelling for leisure, both within their own country and abroad, is certainly affordable for those who wish it, though five-star hotels and exotic destinations are usually not among the options.

The rich are sometimes able to put exotic food on the table and go out to eat in expensive restaurants if they so choose. They can afford excellent private medical care, most treatments and all but the most expensive procedures, including things like plastic surgery, even on short notice.
Housing is not a problem, the only potential difficulty being having to choose between owning one luxury residence or multiple decent ones. Their use of utilities, such as air conditioning or cleaning services, is not limited by finances. They can afford high-end appliances and gadgets, which they can maintain properly and replace at whim.
Purchasing and maintaining automobiles is not a problem, though they might need to choose between one luxury vehicle and multiple decent ones. They can afford expensive new clothes and accessories not only when they need them but also whenever they want them.
They choose how much free time they have, knowing that they have accumulated enough wealth to take them through the remainder of their lives in reasonable comfort and can therefore stop working whenever they wish to do so. While those who wish to keep increasing their wealth might have limited free time, finances are certainly not a problem when it comes to their options regarding recreational activities. Travelling for leisure, occasionally including exotic destinations and luxury accommodations, is certainly affordable for those who wish it.

The very rich are not only able to put any kind of food on the table, including rare and outrageously expensive dishes, but also to hire highly skilled staff to cook for them on a regular basis. They can afford excellent private medical care and any treatments and procedures, whether they’re actually required or simply desired, even on short notice.
Housing is not a problem, as they can easily afford purchasing multiple luxury residences and hiring a good maintenance staff for each. Their use of utilities and services is under no circumstances limited by finances. They can afford high-end, luxury and even unique appliances and gadgets, which they can maintain properly and replace at whim.
Personal automobiles, yachts and aircraft are all among their transportation options, being able to own multiple luxury vehicles and to hire a good maintenance staff for them. They can purchase expensive and even unique, custom-made clothes and accessories at a whim.
They choose how much free time they have, knowing that they have accumulated more than enough wealth to take them through the remainder of their lives in great comfort and can therefore stop working whenever they wish to do so. While those who wish to keep increasing their wealth might have limited free time, finances are certainly not a problem when it comes to their options regarding recreational activities, which could even include very extravagant affairs. Travelling for leisure, often including exotic destinations and luxury accommodations, is by no means a problem.

According to these definitions, I believe you’ll agree with me that we have few middle-class individuals in the world today, many only choosing to define the poor as middle-class because they compare them to the very poor.
This state of affairs is no surprise if you think about it. With Liberals often supporting the rich, Socialists usually supporting the poor and Democrats certainly supporting the majority, which are again the poor, there are no interest groups working for the middle-class. What’s worse, those who support the poor need them to stay poor in order for them to keep their positions of authority!
Personally, I’d want to eliminate both the very poor and the very rich and put the vast majority of people into the middle-class I defined above, with the rest split between poor and rich as needed. But that’s hardly likely within the confines of this society we have built for ourselves. Still, that only means we need a new society!