Erika, thanks for answering Lybs so succinctly and thoroughly!

Lybs, I don't know where you are getting your figures about what constitutes "middle class". Defining the middle class is extremely difficult because of a few factors. One is the cost of living and the economy in different parts of the country. Here in Central PA, you can buy a brick three bedroom two bath home on a 1/4-1/2 acre lot for 150K. How much money would that take in Seattle? It takes a hell of a lot more money in Seattle than in central PA to be "middle class". 60K goes a long way here.

People's lifestyles also enter into it. I work with a guy who has eight kids at home, his wife homeschools, he is the single wage earner, and considers himself solidly middle class. They do not spend money on clothing, a flat screen TV, cigarettes or alcohol. Yet some people on welfare or other govt programs live "better" than he does, if you judge what is middle class by posessions or what people spend their money on.