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Enough with The Middle Class! [1]

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Date: 2025-01-12

I’ve been a Democrat since ’84, and in every campaign, we talk about fighting for the “middle” class. I understand our arguments, believe in them, work for our candidates to win, and then…too often see us crushed by fat cat Republicans whose policies decimate the people we are fighting for. Why? I feel it is not what we tangibly offer, but the aspiration (or lack thereof) we offer to voters.

Republicans offer tax cuts that the vast majority will never see, and those people vote for it. Why? It’s not overt, but behind the argument is this simple formula—it’s not that Democratic policies hurt rich people…it’s that YOU may be rich someday—so these policies would hurt YOU. Now, GOP policies do not allow you to become rich, and they actually do not want any of the great unwashed to join them in their clubhouses, but that is the message they are selling—for you to reach the top, and when you get there, the Democratic policies will hurt you. It’s backward logic while you worry about juggling bills how a capital gains tax will hurt you down the road, but the GOP is at least selling you a dream.

In contrast, we offer up a path to be…well, average. That’s what saying the “middle” class hots people as meaning, just to be there, not aspiring to your dreams, not rising to the upper class…just …some basic Schmoe in the middle. Who wants that? Have you thought to be middle in anything? Middle in grades? Cheer for a team that goes .500 every-year? Find a partner of average looks? Eat food that tastes…just there. NO! No wonder it is easy for the GOP to sell that Dems want to force everyone to be the same (scary socialists)—we are the party that (over and over again) say we want to expand the class right in the middle, …basic, average.

So, let’s wordsmith this. Let’s expand and fight for the Comfortable Class. The class where you work hard, do your job, study, etc—you can be…comfortable. Whatever that means…be able to take two week vacations, cabin up north, send your kids to college, save for retirement, go get your MBA and make a ton of money, rise to ceo, or go have beers at happy hour. I loved how Vice President Harris started saying Opportunity Class—yes, focus on what it means to the individual. I picked Comfortable because, frankly, it sounds more materialistic and I just want to win. If someone has a better word that is aspirational—let’s hear it. But let’s make it something people want, what they aspire to, and what they earn.

Comfortable Class—hey, you shouldn’t have to choose between a stabucks coffee or paying off your loan, comfortable class makes a mockery out of someone suggesting you shouldn’t go to the movies or have a kid, you have EARNED the right to be…not just average, or basic, or mid…but comfortable.

Again, I agree with the policies, the need for investment in people, communities, infrastructure, health, etc. But our goal is not to make anyone middle. It is to for people to cash in on their work to be…comfortable, however they define it.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/story/2025/1/12/2296617/-Enough-with-The-Middle-Class

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