It may not be news, but it's a nice reminder of how much the purchasing power of the middle class has fallen. He was unable to both support his own retirement a

It may not be news, but it's a nice reminder of how much the purchasing power of the middle class has fallen. He was unable to both support his own retirement and support his children (i.e., pay for their college, help with initial house downpayments, etc.). Granted, times are a lot tougher for him since his wife died, but that really only strengthens the point: the middle class is becoming more and more reliant on dual incomes. That is a terrible eventuality, as it makes divorce or separation even more devastating to families and their children. I suspect many posters are thinking, "well, he shouldn't have tried to help his kids so much." And that is also exactly part of the point: he shouldn't have to choose between his own retirement and his kids.