Is the middle class basically poor?

You are viewing a single comment's thread.

← View full post
Comments ( 1 ) Sort: best | oldest
  • Poverty is relative, and class is subjective.

    Just to elaborate, poverty isn't an objective measurement. One can have barely any food on their plate and barely any money in their pocket, but FEEL rich, next to 'the other guy' with nothing. One can then look at the house over the road, see a guy with more food and money, and suddenly FEEL poor.

    The class distinctions are pretty grey and fuzzy in most countries these days. When you say middle class, do you mean literally the average, the median? Do you mean socially? Economically? Materially? Is someone with one less penny, one less shoe, one less qualification lower down this ladder than you? Where's the line? Who draws the line? Who decides where it should be drawn?

    People don't seem to question the legitimacy of categorising us in 3 tiers, but I think that's no longer appropriate. Our society is far too complex, multifaceted. We hear these phrases thrown around "I'm working class", "I'm middle class", what does that really mean? Are these self-imposed distinctions useful, or do they do more harm than good?

    Comment Hidden ( show )