I’m Not Your Middle Class: The New-Collar Class.

W O R D S.

Let’s talk about a pair of words: middle class (sans proposition ‘the’ ).
Let’s stick to the words. Not the technicalities.
Not the arbitrary numbers that define ‘middle class incomes’.
Not who is, middle class.

Actually. Let’s change the who part for a fun fact: most millionaires (3% of the population in the United States) identify as middle class.

This word pair seems to be a catch-all for having a roof over your head and meeting other needs, pretty comfortably.

“These people know the middle class has gotten the short end. The wealthy have done very well. Corporate America has been rewarded. It’s time we change it.”
- Joe Biden, VP debate 2008

D I S C L A I M E R.

The thinking around this article’s America’s felt but hidden class issues is inspired by the journalistic works of Steve Lohr (NYTimes), Richard V. Reeves (NYTimes) and Jelani Cobb(New Yorker) and on the shoulders of many academic giants.

I opted to be ‘un-classy’ by mashing up ideas from these works to create anew.

M O N O L I T H.

Why have such an amorphous word pair; a monolith; something everyone wants to identify with?

Middle-class country. Could middle class have been used to avoid talk of classes and deter socialist sentiment during the Cold War? Check.

For the love of the crowd. Could the pair been used to create a pretty similar crowd with aligned values that validate membership? Check.

But. This monolith looks like it is so desirable. Not everyone could fit in. So, where would the angst that comes with ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ of a political-economy be directed to?

Race? Most likely. Immigrants? Historically, yes, yes, yes — Italians. Irish … [The rest of this sentence is intentionally left blank to accommodate any current or future group that is or becomes the punching bag from social angst].

O L D — W O R L D.

We love the old-world. Ironically, the class-based indulgences are fun in America. But very posh in original form. Polo-watching. Like Prince Harry. Derby-ing. Like Ascot Royalty. Horse-trading themes for the a Pimm’s party. These aren’t the №1 things in everyone’s cup.

Question then. How are these time and money consuming indulgences, masked as fun mimicries of class, not actual indicators of class?

Or are they seen more of the unspoken existence of America’s own stratification?

Let’s use the proposition: The middle class.

The middle class covers the entire spectrum of an elite — proletariat type divide. It is the opposite of what the rest of the world loves referring to as such:

“We have no middle class, you’re either rich or poor”

Maybe the inclusion of the actual word class is what hides the stratification. It feels like an island destination that you reach by climbing up the ladder. It’s like a sport that we fondly call meritocracy. But not everyone on the island lives in a 5-star.

You can’t knock anyone for working hard and living a comfortable life. Nope. Not at all. American dream. There’s also people who work hard and fail to climb up this ladder. It reads like a dreamed-up musical album.

NOW This Is What We Call The Bottom of the Ladder: 1st Edition

1. 47% … Romney ft. The Freeloaders
2. The Basket … Hillary ft. The Deplorables
3. Welfare Queens … Reagan
…

But are we assuming that there is only one particular ladder?
Are some rigged?
Are some kicked off post-use?
Are some on the wrong wall?

W E A L T H — T R A P.

‘There are probably more rags to riches cases than the other way around. Anecdotally, there seems to be better safety nets for the offspring of the wealthy.’ — Gary Solon

So, is it is easier to fall off the ladder if you’re on the right ladder? Maybe. You know — good schools, taxes, property, inheritance, access. Good ladders.

What of the bad ladders?

B U R G E R S.

Poor school districts. Parents on welfare. No wealth accumulation. Fewer jobs okay with only GEDs. Opportunities for college scarce.

These are realities several 18 year olds face. One of the first options is always to opt for casual service jobs in restaurants. It’s what makes the phrase “I flipped burgers’ infamous among those who climbed up some good ladders.

On an earnings basis, minimum wages are being raised (or are to be raised) in some states.

But let us speak economics and markets.

Economics. A minimum wage is a price floor. Theoretically, this should lead to disequilibrium: excess supply and diminished demand. It hasn’t been agreed on in the labor market.

But a recent study concluded that the effects of Seattle’s minimum wage increases (from $9.47 to $11/hour in April 2015 and to $13/hour in January 2016) resulted in employment losses. What gives if this spreads elsewhere?

Markets.Let’s go light here. Robots and automation are eating minimal wage jobs.

These jobs are not sustainable. So the question sticks. What can be done?

N E W — C O L L A R.

Suggestion. Maybe we get rid of the amorphous middle class and instead name the ladders that bring people to where they are.
+ The Ivy League Legacy Meritocracy Ladder
+ The Lucky Scholarship Meritocracy Ladder
+ The My-Widowed-Mum-Is-On-Welfare Ladder

Why do it?

Consciousness. Class is a real part of our lives, defined by the ladders. Let’s accept. Oh wait! There is already a phrase: ‘stay in your lane’.

Opportunities. One of the key markers of class stratification has been access to education. Quality education with real outcomes.

Getting into college is often through a meritocracy ladder. Not accessible to everyone. With the new economy, though, can we look for highly-skilled workers through whole new ladders away from traditional ‘pipelines’?

Low-wage earning and smart people with no access to college and the ‘correct’ geography (such as areas with shut down factories) — can train on hard skills that match tomorrow’s jobs, create a new class of decently paid workers — The New-Collar Class — that uses its smarts to rig new ladders to live dignified lives, rebuild their hometowns and the economy.