Where is the middle class in this era?

Viv writes:

Why I am NOT proud to be British

Manipulated by media, blame is being laid on groups perceived as outsiders, immigrants and overseas minorities. It makes me very sad and very angry. Understandable outrage at lack of jobs is being twisted into hatred against groups that have very little to do with the issue.

This is, indeed, a world-wide trend, Vivien. In Canada, we are adopting some of the anti-union trends by right-wing conservatives, influenced by the US-based Tea Party. Currently, with scandals in Ontario at the municipal, provincial and federal levels, the feds are now attacking union and public service sick leave. It puts me in mind of the tragic deaths in Bangladesh. It sets back the labour movement a 100 years, where the 1% continue to thrive, the middle class is losing out, and the poor are becoming increasingly poor.

Published on 16 May 2013

Both the left and the right harken back with nostalgia to days when things were better for the middle class. Were things really better for everyone? If so, what can be done to regain what both the left and the right feel has been lost?

We've lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs in Canada in the last 10 years.
They said, 'We can't win the race to the bottom.' The bottom were the deaths in Bangladesh.
Cannot cut wages in half, as Caterpillar demanded, then they closed the plant.
Then they closed a non-union plant.
Bailouts for banks and the auto industry.

Monte McNaughton, PC MPP: Lambton-Kent
Finn Poschmann, C.D. Howe Institute
Charlotte Yates, McMaster University
Jim Stanford, CAW

Manipulated by media, blame is being laid on groups perceived as outsiders, immigrants and overseas minorities. It makes me very sad and very angry. Understandable outrage at lack of jobs is being twisted into hatred against groups that have very little to do with the issue.
Monte:
Create an environment where businesses expand, the private sector will hire people and we have to start by balancing books.
They began by quoting MPP Randy Hillier, back off government and all that: he wants back to the good old days.

Forty years ago, Ontario's skies shone bright with endless opportunities.
Ontario is responsible for 40% of the Canadian economy.Society is stronger when everyone has a chance to participate.
Income tax collected proportionally. Income transfers, direct public service in social programs is enhancing the life of citizens.
Ratio of the top 5th to the bottom 5th of incomes. 53:1. Once you add in transfer payments and income taxes, you get to 9:1, to narrow the gap.
Value of healthcare, and education, you get down to 6:1.

The Great British class calculator: Class warfare

A Meals on Wheels crew!

Many who came to the 'New World' wanted to leave the old order.
The old world is still working on the old order, but sociologists are redefining it. To my mind, it is not so important that we categorize or label, but much more important to have:

'something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.'

Also, for those to whom much has been given, much is required. We live in an area with many happy retirees, with either pensions or capital. There are many seniors in their golden year who would be the 'technical middle class', but they give back to their communities. Some are in the new sandwich generation, where there are 70-somethings caring for 90-somethings.

Alan (left) delivers a meal to Willard,
with Mayor Fenyk (right) helping!

Many are taking care of neighbours whose family are far away. Many of the Meals on Wheels crews are delivering meals to younger clients! There is no apathy around here!

The findings have been published in the Sociology Journal and presented at a conference of the British Sociological Association.

The new classes are defined as:

• Elite - the most privileged group in the UK, distinct from the other six classes through its wealth. This group has the highest levels of all three capitals

• Established middle class - the second wealthiest, scoring highly on all three capitals. The largest and most gregarious group, scoring second highest for cultural capital

• Technical middle class - a small, distinctive new class group which is prosperous but scores low for social and cultural capital. Distinguished by its social isolation and cultural apathy

• New affluent workers - a young class group which is socially and culturally active, with middling levels of

  

  Keith Metcalfe (left) a WW II paratrooper,
  who delivered Meals on Wheels in Bala.

  economic capital

• Traditional working class - scores low on all forms of capital, but is not completely deprived. Its members have reasonably high house values, explained by this group having the oldest average age at 66

• Emergent service workers - a new, young, urban group which is relatively poor but has high social and cultural capital

• Precariat, or precarious proletariat - the poorest, most deprived class, scoring low for social and cultural capital