It’s getting harder and harder to be middle class in America

“…the cost-of-thriving index (COTI), which starts from a simple premise: Americans must prioritize five sets of goods when providing for their family. That includes food, housing, health care, transportation and higher education. Those who can pay for those needs without worry can enjoy some luxuries without risking their children’s future”

“The news is sobering: In 1985, it took 39.7 weeks of work each year to pay for these things, giving families plenty of room to enjoy other consumer goods and luxuries. But today, it takes 62.1 weeks of work to cover the same expenses. In other words, about 40 years ago, the median American family could enjoy a middle-class life on one earner’s paycheck. Today, it takes two.“

Think of these things that didn’t exist for my parents when they were young parents- 

Cable TV and/or HULU, Cell phone service, high employment taxes for SS and Medicare, internet connection, 

Wonder why it's getting harder.

Oh right, daddy Biden is spending more than he can make. 

That doesn’t even make sense as it relates to this study. Don’t be a dummy on everything.

Education is too expensive. Even kindergarten costs like 2000$.

Lol, the article literally is about inflation and the OP never figured it out....

I think YouFound Lxam is referring to taxes which make things more expensive for people.  Is this correct Lxam?

Ya, the middle class has only been struggling the last two years, genius. 

This has been going on since 1980. For 40 fucking years the middle class has been backsliding.

Low taxes for corporations and the wealthy began in the 80s

Pay for workers began stagnating in the 70s

Union membership has been in decline since the 80s

Jobs have been going overseas since the 80s

College tuition has been going up rapidly, from zero, since the 80s

Companies giving pensions and health benefits to employees has been decreasing since the 80s

The issue is of normalizing women in the work force. If you double the labor pool, you decrease how much employees can demand. Like op said, we used to be able to do these things on a single income, but now we need two incomes. Women in the workforce is not the only thing. Taxes take away what you could be using to pay bills. You also have increased health care costs because of Obamacare. I now pay like $500 a month for insurance and I never even see a Dr or go to a hospital. 

It's so funny. The same era that outlawed chattel slavery also supported indentured servitude through coerced membership into "labor unions"

Labor unions are just a legal way for the mafia to run protection rackets.

"Hey that's a nice job you have there.... it would be a real shame if anything were to happen to your job...."

So, can we say "the american dream" is not attainable anymore?

I'm really sorry for all these people trying to get in the US thinking that they can live a better life than in their country of origin.

Meet the new dictator in chief. Same as the old dictator.

Yes I was.