- The Catch-22 of the Middle Class - Being in the "middle-class" in this country, as being a member of any class in this country, often defines the "life-chances" and "life-style" options available to the members within them. While only approximately 35% of the US population belongs in this class, the majority of Americans consider themselves members within it. Real income for middle class Americans "…fell over a 15-year period, from $38,248 in 1979 to $36,959 in 1993, and that this decline was the direct result of the policies of Ronald Reagan and the Republicans," (Abraham 1). The problem is most Americans do not make this much income individually per year, nonetheless, they take life-chances and try to maintain lifestyle-choices that middle-class incomes exhibit.
Typical middle-class values encompass a college degree, home ownership, children and usually more than one mode of transportation. All four of these values,
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