[shipman05]

That's the whole point. When people hear "the middle class is shrinking" they intuitively believe people are slipping down a rung and joining the ranks of the working poor. The data doesn't back that up. The middle class is shrinking, but more people are moving up a rung than falling down one.

Which isn't to say that you're wrong about wealth inequality increasing. The share of wealth controlled by the ultra wealthy IS increasing, but the specifics of how that is playing out are nuanced and, at times, counter-intuitive.

[saulpw]

> more people are moving up a rung than falling down one.

How do you figure that? Do we have any data that backs that up?

[granzymes]

You are commenting on the article that contains data that backs that up.

[saulpw]

Since 1970. It's quite misleading to take two data points spread 55 years apart and make the titular claim as though the trend is continuing.

[pc86]

If you look at the top of this page you'll see an article with data.

[nyeah]

But, Doctor, the data does back that up. The US middle class is shrinking, and most of the shrinkage is on the low end. There's no mystery about this, only potential for distractions.