tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800311.post115554031076161329..comments2023-10-24T07:31:18.235-07:00Comments on Goldtoe Lemon.Nut: Censusgoldmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773351408378125444noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800311.post-1156710855994316282006-08-27T13:34:00.000-07:002006-08-27T13:34:00.000-07:00"Basically, everyone in America wants to believe t..."Basically, everyone in America wants to believe that they are middle class."<BR/><BR/>There is a lot of truth in this. While in college, I have met people on public assistance who have described themselves as middle class, as well as folks in multimillion dollar homes.<BR/><BR/>But hey, isn't middle class the all-American way to be? The media would certainly have us believe that.Coco LaRuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06879102860723933743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800311.post-1156593945778993032006-08-26T05:05:00.000-07:002006-08-26T05:05:00.000-07:00Well, at least Illinois doesn't have a license pla...Well, at least Illinois doesn't have a license plate that reads, "Illinois, USA." Here in New Mexico all new license plates in the past 10 years or so now say at the bottom, "New Mexico, USA" because apparently this state really does have to convince the rest of this country that it is a part of the union! <BR/><BR/>Going along with what <I>Lupo's Big Sister</I> has to say, I highly recommend "Material World: A Global Family Portrait" by Peter Menzel.Sushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06857478516622061111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800311.post-1156564521842282412006-08-25T20:55:00.000-07:002006-08-25T20:55:00.000-07:00yup.yup.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800311.post-1156526461344298832006-08-25T10:21:00.000-07:002006-08-25T10:21:00.000-07:00Savage Inequalities by Kozol looks in depth at Eas...Savage Inequalities by Kozol looks in depth at East St. Louis and also at the idea that most people think they are middle class. Interesting stuff!middlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013886297642008234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800311.post-1156261745918482602006-08-22T08:49:00.000-07:002006-08-22T08:49:00.000-07:00Thanks for the perspective and the advice!Thanks for the perspective and the advice!goldmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10773351408378125444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800311.post-1156229185026427232006-08-21T23:46:00.000-07:002006-08-21T23:46:00.000-07:00Agreed; we're wealthier than we actually admit we ...Agreed; we're wealthier than we actually admit we are... I posted <A HREF="http://bigappleliving.blogspot.com/2004/05/how-rich-are-you.html" REL="nofollow">How Rich Are You</A> a while ago that links to an interesting site where you compare your annual salary to the rest of the world. I was living paycheck to paycheck, paying off student loans and old debt, and yet I came out in the top 0.77% richest people in the world. I lived in a <A HREF="http://flickr.com/photos/lifeisgrand/sets/900313/" REL="nofollow">150 square foot apt</A> in NYC (not a typo). So, I quit my job in 2004 and have been <A HREF="http://lifeisgrand.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">traveling ever since</A>. I see you're about to collect a few adventures for yourself. Best of luck doing nothing while roaming the world and congratulations!<BR/><BR/>P.S. If Vietnam is on your radar, my aunts have an incredible <A HREF="http://flickr.com/photos/lifeisgrand/sets/315395/" REL="nofollow">resort</A> there. And, I think we're just two or three degrees of separation from one another.Mielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13661371269745214393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5800311.post-1155762431306098652006-08-16T14:07:00.000-07:002006-08-16T14:07:00.000-07:00"Basically, everyone in America wants to believe t..."Basically, everyone in America wants to believe that they are middle class."<BR/><BR/>I don't think that's true.<BR/><BR/>The poor have no illusions about class. They know they're poor.<BR/><BR/>A variety of social issues convince the middle class they don't want to be there... that they need more. This is visible in a number of outward expressions of a status they don't really have (think expensive cloths but a busted old house).<BR/><BR/>I'll agree that the upper middle class tend to view themselves as middle class. While, paradoxically, engaging in the same sorts of higher status expressions (think of the ornate architectural details on homes in new suburban developments that are really just cheap imitations made from plaster and plywood).<BR/><BR/>Which isn't that surprising. Upper middle class is a very in between position. Forcing connections above and below seems like a natural thing to do.<BR/><BR/>I'd also wager there's a bit of guilt involved. Although a far more complicated, and probably not as negative, guilt than what is typically thrown on those of higher status by liberal crowds.jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708035614389289411noreply@blogger.com