Summary: The concept of a “working class” in America is unclear and fragmented, as many people across various income levels identify as working class, regardless of their economic status. The decline of unionization and the rise of white-collar jobs have made it difficult to form a cohesive working class that shares common interests. To win back lower-income voters, Democrats may need to address broader American issues rather than relying on class-based politics.
For high-earning or highly-educated Democrats, calling themselves “working class” might simply be a way of saying that they earn their income by working, rather than by collecting passive income from stocks or real estate. (View Highlight)
John Steinbeck is often (mis)quoted as saying that “socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.” (View Highlight)