Whence the middle class
I've been thinking a lot about the idea of the middle class.
Where did it come from? I think probably from the famous "Puritan work ethic" - being lower class or poor would be the result of being lazy, but one also doesn't want to be seen as prideful by claiming to be upper class.
Being middle class means you're a better person than those poor people, but you're on your way up, heading for bigger and fancier things.
The idea of being middle class used to be appealing, but the older I get the more I see that it's mostly just a ploy. A country full of people who think they're middle class is really just beneficial to those already in power.
Leaving the middle class way of thinking is hard. It's hard to let go of. But it's worth it!