For the middle class, it requires you spend more money that you likely don't have on an intangible benefit that doesn't factor into your bottom line equation.

For the middle class, it requires you spend more money that you likely don't have on an intangible benefit that doesn't factor into your bottom line equation. Upper class folk will concern themselves with Davos-esque visioneering, societal progress, and "downshifting" as their free time and resources allow themselves to explore new ethical practices. The true middle class is focusing on critical value trade offs (getting more for your money) and family unit stability. This narrows their energy away from the broader problems and closer to matters of survival. Consider how even Whole Foods or "Goop" is seen by your average middle class individual -- a spot for dilettantes to overpay for apples rather than a representation of hope for working farmers and healthy children. I think the upper-class must steer away from the concerns of themselves and shoring up their wealth and towards a reinvestment on society, something the recession in the US and depots in Russia and China have set back as members now fear assets could disappear at any time. A portion of the super-class (Gates, Buffet etc) have already tried to evangelize this with some progress -- whilst facing opponents like the Kochs and others who seem to have a more socially adverse ideology.