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> What does it take to be middle class in Los Angeles? That was the question Ross DeVol started out asking himself when he began calculating how much a resident
by droithomme 10y ago
> What does it take to be middle class in Los Angeles? That was the question Ross DeVol started out asking himself when he began calculating how much a resident would need to make to spend 30 percent of earned after-tax income on rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles County.
I disagree with the author that this is middle class. A two bedroom apartment is the very definition of impoverished lower class loser, just above homeless.
Middle class means a detached 3 bedroom in the suburbs, with biweekly maid service, two financed cars, health care to the point you don't need to worry about it at all, and buying whatever you want at the supermarket.
What middle class does not include is any one of: a mansion, live in staff, a yacht, full time nannies instead of occasional baby sitters, swiss boarding school for the children, a groomsman for the horse, a pool boy, a cabana, a private plane, or zero income tax.
This is what skilled factory workers and teachers had in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Above them, designers, engineers and lawyers, comprised the upper class, or upper middle class.
- Aloha 10y ago>Middle class means a detached 3 bedroom in the suburbs, with biweekly maid service, two financed cars, health care to the point you don't need to worry about it at all, and buying whatever you want at the supermarket. This to me is the very definition of upper middle class. Middle class (for a family) to means a 2-3 bedroom house in the suburbs, at least two cars (with one likely under financing), health care to the point you don't need to worry about it at all, and food shopping on a very large, but not unlimited budget. Plus the ability to take a vacation at least once a year to a regional destination. For someone single different rules apply.
- x3n0ph3n3 10y ago> I disagree with the author that this is middle class. A two bedroom apartment is the very definition of impoverished lower class loser, just above homeless. Apparently I'm an impoverished loser who makes more than 10% of the US population.
- wott 10y agoThat's the point.
- cryptoz 10y ago> A two bedroom apartment is the very definition of impoverished lower class loser, just above homeless. Stop trolling. This is the rudest thing I've seen anyone say in a long time and it certainly doesn't belong on HN (but also, it's weirdly classic HN to read things like that here). Socioeconomic class is not defined by who you think is a loser or what kind of dwelling you choose to live in. I would never live in a house like you describe if I were middle class. I would always choose the 2 bedroom apartment. That makes me a loser, just above "homeless"? No, it doesn't. Stop the insulting nonsense.
- WaxProlix 10y agoI think you're misreading OP's intent. I read it as, "don't be contented and call yourself 'middle class' when by standards of days past you're struggling to get by" or something of the sort. Hyperbole, but not malicious. I could be wrong though. Some people are just assholes.
- st3v3r 10y agoIt seems like you're wrong. There are a thousand better ways that could have been phrased, which would have had the meaning you ascribed to it, without the poster being an asshole.
- tkxxx7 10y agoThat was the feeling I got from it as well. Perhaps could've been stated more clearly, but to me the intent was there.
- applecore 10y agoBy your definition of the middle class, a healthy U.S. economy would need approximately 4,000,000 domestic maids to satisfy the biweekly maid service requirement.
- droithomme 10y agoIt is a lot of good jobs that pay fairly, do not require skilled labor, post-secondary education, or high IQ, and is not difficult, strenuous or dangerous work. I have certainly done this same work myself. It is an excellent position for people without many skills and/or the desire to pursue education. And it is not an appropriate use of time for those of us who do have more skills. Therefore it is highly reasonable and efficient to outsource these tasks to those unable to make things or to design things, and/or not motivated for whatever reason to seriously pursue and master such tasks.
- kcanini 10y agoOr it would require a family to be able to support itself on one full-time income instead of two, so the other spouse can maintain the house.
- jaggederest 10y agoI'm not sure there's much of an overlap but the 8,000,000 people in the transportation industry who will shortly be underemployed might be in the market for that.
- gnopgnip 10y agoMiddle class means you work for your money. Upper class means you have money regardless of how much you work. A family of two lawyers earning $500k a year are still middle class.
- seanmcdirmid 10y agoWorking class means you work for your money. It's even in the name. Middle class falls between working class and upper class, the bourgeoisie so to speak.
- segmondy 10y agoI don't have biweekly maid service, I guess I'm almost there. In my opinion, middle class is earning enough to live in a relatively safe number, pay all your bills, your own house, rent/buy, car, health care, feed your kids and be able to SAVE some. Maybe not much, but say saving 10% of your after tax income. If you have all of the above and no savings or borrowing on Credit cards, you are a fool.
- seattle_spring 10y ago> biweekly maid service This is the most shockingly spoiled thing I've ever read on HN. Tops even that dude (Timr?) who said that $250k in SF was near-poverty.