Middle Class
 

WSJ had interesting comparison surveys.
To be part of the middle class you need:

1991 Survey---------------------------------------2012 Survey

To own a home-70%____________________ A secure job-86%

Two or more cars-48% __________________Health insurance-66%

Stocks,bonds investments-41%___________ To own a home-45%

A white collar job-33%___________________ A college education-37%

______________________________________Stocks,bonds investments-28%

"In the wake of the housing crisis, far fewer Americans surveyed think home ownership is a Hallmark of being a member of the Middle Class. "

not surprising at all, nothing will put you in the poor house quicker, than owning one.

I agree Karl, but I was lookiing at the change of importance to people as to
a secure job now, being more important to middle class now than a house was in
1991.

The change in the corporate atmosphere where people come last is one of the
biggest reasons, imho. The most you can expect from a company now is aprox
5 years before your let go. Going back 25-30 years ago you could depend
on a company employing you until retirement, if you were contributing to the bottom line
and doing a good job. People were the last thing to get cut when a company was hurting,
now they know they can save x amount of $ by laying off people first.

Want to be in the middle class? Work hard enough to get at least B's in high school (not hard for 90% of American teenagers). Go to college. If you can't afford it, join the military for a hitch or two. When in college, study engineering, accounting, or ANYTHING related to healthcare (pharmacy, physicians assistant, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy).

Transmission ends.

25-30 the US was still riding the post WWII wave where most developed countries where still rebuilding. 30 yrs ago, honda, toyota, datsun cars where not very common. Fast forward 25-30 years - former third world countries - India, singapore, thailand are educated. They are building technology and infrastrucutre, they are competeing in the global marketplace. Those countries were colonies of european nations 60+ yrs ago. Think about the competition the country needs to contend with?

pretty much nailed it but dont forget - plumbers, electricians, contractors can never be outsourced, you need to have these in the US.