What is "Middle Class"? (read the post, not just the title).

I do not know what it was like in the 50's, but that describes pretty much the way I grew up. We had 1 car 1 television, 1 Nintendo, 1 stereo and we I had to share a bedroom with my brother in a 2 bedroom apartment.

We lived like that, although we were considered "lower-lower middle class". I shared a room with my sister, my brothers bunked together. It made us closer to our siblings. One television, when we finally got one, meant we all watched together and learned to compromise--and also learned to subdue our anger when we didn't get our own way. One car? Mom stayed home, Dad worked, they both sacrificed so that we could have the bare necessities. The result was a close family that worked well together, looked at meals away from home and movies as luxuries, siblings that whispered together in the dark as often as they fought and a home where everyone learned to cooperate. It prepared us for the world of adulthood. Yes, let's go back to the middle class of the 50's!

I grew up in the '50s. My father had what would now be considered an above average job (he was a senior editor for a publishing company). We lived in a detached, six bedroomed house (with about a quarter of an acre of garden) and employed a part-time gardener and a 'home help' which, I think, was only affordable because my mother ran a small school. Life was pretty good. We did not have a car, a TV or a radio and only once (that I remember) had a family holiday, though us children were sometimes sent away to stay with relatives. We had plenty of books, a quite extensive model railway and Meccano (a constructional toy). We went for walks and cycle rides and we played with friends in the village. Looking back, we lived, I suppose, just within our means. We were not rich (there were several families in our friends group who were clearly 'better off' ... one of them even had a TV and several had cars) but we were not, I think, poor - there was always plenty of good food on the table, in spite of rationing, and we had a huge garden and plenty of space to play in, if it was wet. In class terms, we were definitely "middle class". My mother would have insisted that we were "upper middle" but she always had ideas above her station! I do remember that we had a whole pile of National Geographic Magazines and we drooled over the adverts for cars, fridges, radiograms (I don't remember any for TVs) and washing machines ... all of which were almost unimaginable luxuries for us and gave us the impression that post-war America was very much better off than England.

Hmmm...still live in a small 3-bedroom house, but now we have 2 cars and need two incomes to make ends meet. And, being 6 years away from retiring, it's a scary time to live in. And, we only had 2 kids, a boy and a girl. LOL.

I grew up in the 80's. There were 7 people in my family and we lived in a 4 bedroom home. I shared a room with my brother and 2 of my sisters shared a room. My father worked while my mother stayed home to take care of the kids. We had 2 TVs and my father did make a 20% down payment on the house. To this day he insists that that's the only way ANYONE should buy a house. He says if you can't muster 20%, than you should save more because clearly you aren't ready to be a homeowner and accept all the associated costs. The reason we can't just go back to that way of living is that cost of living has grown far past standard wages. Houses should actually be much cheaper than they are, but the government is literally hoarding hundreds of thousands of foreclosed, vacant homes to keep home prices artificially high.

That would be better than it is today, where no parent knows where the kids are at midnight because if they aren't working they are sleeping or partying because "they deserve a break". If both parents did not "have" to work, they would not need 2 cars. If the kids were not spoiled brats they would not each need a car. Who says everyone needs a cell phone, Ipad, computer, TV in their "OWN room",and every item of designer clothes on the market? We are an ego~centric society that is going down the tubes because of it. We cannot pay our stupid debts and now our Government cannot either because we expect it to bail us out when we screw up...Get a grip and wake up...

The middle class is disappearing and if something is not changed it only be the poor and rich. No middle class. Sad but true. I grew up in the 1960's. We were middle class. I didn't have it bad but I thought I did! I was always jealous of the other kids who were in the upper middle class! Thanks to my jealousy I never appreciated what I had. Wish I was rich, I am sick of getting pooer every year!

As the economy has changed, the balance between materialism and other values has shifted, as well as the definition of what constitutes "middle class" in dollar and cents terms. Of course we want more "value" and purchasing power for our money and an upwards progression of standard-of-living. Consider, also some of the cost. I'd much rather have a mom at home than more gadgets. Comfort is good re having a room to onesself, but I'd rather have the comfort and support of a nurturing family, physically there to care for me and guide me. As a member of a multi-generational family growing up, this is important to me. We had "things", but we also had each other and always someone there to care for and instruct the children. I suppose we were "middle class" at that level. Shared rooms and things were part of the deal. I'm not saying it was "idyllic" since nothing is, but the sense of family, belonging, and something more than just "self" was good. Money is important, but buying "bigger, better mousetraps" isn't always. And the "economy" is just one part of the fabric of society. It's always hard to go back to having "less", but sometimes "less" can be more in some respects. (We also want to be really careful when "the economy" is used as a political tool to deceive and manipulate us by those who see it as leverage to their own power.) Today we hardly have intact families at some levels of society (and, too, a lot of "lonely"). This, aldo has an effect on our economy and serves to increase poverty. I read an article about the prevalence of "one-parent" households. The writer predicted that by 2013 we would instead have a preponderance of "one person" households. Then, I guess, all the material things would be assigned to "self" and "one of each" would be "just right" (as in the fit of the "Three Bears'" chairs ). Class designations are, in a sense, fluid and "artificial constructs". Having "class lines" blurred or changed is ephemeral. So, is "middle class" just not being rich or poor? Or is it a comfort level of being able to avail onesself and family of a good chunk of the material aspect of the economy attainable by most. In the old days the pursuit of material things was a matter of "keeping up with the Joneses" (who were the Joneses anyway?) and there were fewer material things to chase after. Standards and values have shifted and in many ways we are lost. Moderation, balance, and alignment are good concepts, but require both disciplined thought and work to achieve. We need to be good stewards of what we have. I, like most people, would love to have the best of both worlds and the most comfort that money can buy. But, the myth of "having it all" persists, to the detriment of some very dear values and the sacrifice of, perhaps, some of that which is most precious, necessary, and vital to our true wellbeing. We all want to own more things, but not have them own us, as in incurred debt. As in Phillipians 4:12, the lesson of how to "abound and abase", and find contentment in all circumstances, is common to all of us at one or another levels, and we all can "afford" to learn the vital lessons of humility and gratitude. Some "examples", maybe: Will Smith tells of a conversation with his dad after he first made it big. He told dad he had so many cars. And Dad said, "But you only got one butt." And, the country song re "you've got food on the table and shoes on your feet." How much is "enough"?

I don't think the term 'middle class' meant the 50's-middle class anymore. The bar has been raised by the children that grew up in that kind of middle-class. Having one TV, one stereo, one car etc., isn't enough anymore. Unfortunately, this also meant that a one-income family isn't enough anymore too. If we all went back to that lifestyle, it wouldn't be middle class, but below the poverty level.

We should all return to the days of "Leave it to Beaver", right? Nostalgia is fun stuff, but it is usually inaccurate. My household was an exception. Both of my parents were well-educated professionals with good incomes. My friends' homes were different. One thing that should be kept in mind when talking about the middle class in the 1950s: they were nearly all white. What we call middle class was viewed as incredible affluence by most of the black population. George Will has said we should return to the standards of 1905. Of course. Women could not vote, nearly all of our black citizens were disenfranchised, and child labor was normal. Notice that none of those inconvenient items would affect his status. The best thing about the 50s compared with today is the prevalence of jobs. There was always plenty of work.

There is a world of a difference between how we were brought up with restrictions everywhere compared to the present generation. My mother had to think twice before allowing her children to go on picnics and stuff. There was just enough food but none to throw away. We were called the middle class Looking at our next generation they have piles of everything, name it and they have it. They can no longer be called middle class and neither can I now be called middle class as my status in life now is far better than what it was when I was a kid.

Ted, I don't hear anyone saying they'd like a return to 1950's economy. Usually the desired economy is under Bill Clinton, which produced millions of jobs and left W with a surplus which he quickly gave away to the upper 2%.

My family lives much like this now. We were up to our eye balls in debt, and were having problems just trying to make our house payment. My parents helped us when my husband lost his job due to down sizing. My in-laws said that they would help but when what we feared actually happened, my MIL took back what she said and didn't help us at all. We were not asking for a lot, we just were trying to feed our kids and keep our home. That is when my mother step in and gave us money to help us get back on our feet. From that day forward, I have been a different person. I never want to go through that again. My husband found work again that pays better. It allows me to stay at home with our kids, allowing us to actually save money because we are not paying a babysetter. It allows me to have a nice garden and grow our family's produce too. That saves us a lot. We down graded our home to a small house just outside of town with a huge yard for the kids to play and for my garden and flowers. We have no cable tv, only have one tv, and one computer. Friends and neighbors loan us dvd's to watch for entertainment. Our car was down graded to a used one that is paid off. We were able to slowly pull ourselves out of the debt. We are still working on it, but have enough that we were finally able to open a savings account this year. We are working on getting enough for 6 to 12 months of bills and grocery money saved just incase something happens again. Idealisticly I am hoping to have 2 years worth, so the savings could cover cost of things breaking down. What happened to us was a real eye opener for me. I do not want to ever go back to how it was.

I mean, it sound life, it would be better(FREE LOVE). I not sure, I would do good in that time era. Im 25yrs old, single, no kids. Back then, I should of been, married at 21 with 2 kids by-now. Working as a homemaker. I love working, an not having to, care about what somebody else wants to eat. I keep my house clean, but I could not image leaving my job. To wear long yellow gloves. Hair tide back, pushing the newest Hoover around. Daydreaming watching the laundry dry. Now-a-days middle class means "everybody works" including children 15 or older.

Everything looks better in hindsight, even if we know better. Those things did not hurt us, but they are a far cry from the luxury that even the less than middle class enjoys today. Yes, I remember when having a two car garage meant a house was quite expensive.

Really the only things I likesd in the 50 were gas and food prices could use that now

I was born in the late 50's and I remember those days. I don't recall it being too bad at all, really. My parents did only have one car but it was fine because mom stayed home with us all the time. If we had things to do, she'd take dad to work and we'd pick him up afterwards. We didn't need more than one tv or phone. We weren't allowed to watch the tv much or even be inside much. The car was paid for so no car payments and my parents owned their own home so I had no clue to what apartment life was like. Mom never worked at all except for occasional hairdressing out of our dining room, until dad retired in the mid-80's and she had to. I had a great childhood and one that I'd have wanted for my own kids. I raised my girls on my own but I raised them with similar values as my parents did. It was more difficult of course because they wanted all this "stuff" but I couldn't afford all those material babysitters and looking at how fine and responsible as adults, I'd say it all worked out just fine. Sure, I'd love to return to the days where one income could actually get me more than a subsidized apartment. A time where my one income maybe could have afforded a couple of decent vacations for my kids? sure..I'll take it! Geez, back in those times, single parents were very rare. I think it would be awesome to go back to those times truthfully.

I grew up in the 80's not the 50's. Both my parents worked, they each had their own cars to get to work. We lived in a two bedroom rented townhouse. We had two TV's a stereo, two telephone lines. I slept in my parents room until I was about two when my older brother moved off to college then I got his room. We weren't rich but we had everything we needed and some of what we wanted (not all but some). We took vacations out of state (most of the time was just to visit relatives down south). We (parents) didn't live paycheck to paycheck.

My husband and I listen to a lot of talk shows. It was interesting to find out that child care is costing the average person more than it would cost to send your child to college. In Washington DC alone it costs 17,000.00 a year for daycare. If we look at the job availability today, if we had one car, one salary look at the money that would be saved in that alone. Then look at the clothes you have to have for a second income (uusally wife) extra lunches, cell phones that were not even an option in the 50's. I grew up in the 50's and my mother was home. She cooked all the meals, there were no such places as McDonalds etc on every corner. At school the lunches were what you had to eat or you brought your lunch. But Mom was always home, and if there was an emergency she was there to get the phone. Kids during our time did not have a PSP, cell phone etc, we were obedient to our parents and sometimes had to wait 30 minutes in a bank lobby while dad stood in line to get his paycheck cashed. Then again being an obedient child you went grocery shopping with them. you were not allowed to stay in a car. You went in while they walked around shopping. As they say children were seen and not heard. You did not ask for anything because mom made the meals, baked cakes, pies and cookies. The only cereal was basic wheaties, cornflakes, rice krispies, rice, oatmeal and cream of wheat. Dad worked for TWA airlines he said we were middle class. The first home my parents bought in 1958 was only 7,995.00 New too. It was a 3 bedroom no basement with laundry room off the kitchen so mom did not have to go out in the cold to do wash we shared one bathroom. In 1963 they bought their second home and sold their first. this house was 13,500.00 It had a basement, 3 bedrooms, and bath and half and garage. They kept that house til they passed away. I think if we went back to some of the old ways, then morals would be different, parents would be home to help with homework, cook meals, clean the house, etc As it is today, everyone is beating themselves up over the almighty dollar, and in reality the more you make the less you have. I raised 5 children and invented a job so I could be at home if my children needed me. If we needed extra money I would work as a temp occasionally. But my at home job was actually very good I averaged 300.00 to 1200.00 a week depending on what I did. And half of that was always put back in the business. In the 50's mom did not miss a car by not having one Her and I walked together to get ice cream or the local shopping district where she would get me lunch after she sold some crochet work she had done. So we would have a fountain cherry coke, french fries, and hotdog. For the both of us it come to 1.25 Life was simplier. Not like it is now where every form has a hand out to take your money.