Did you watch Oprah yesterday about social class?

I agree with your comment. Most people who need help financially are middle class and need the help because of a crisis. That is another reason why the poor stay poor. With health care and the rise on prices to own a home, the middle class is just 2 paychecks away from living on the streets.

i totally agree, my husband and i only generate one income because i have to watch the kids while he works since daycare is so expensive, but he makes to much for us to qualify for head start so we can get my 31/2 yr. old in preschool, if i can't afford daycare how am i supposed to afford preschool? i'm not trying to get welfare or wic or housing i just want to get my son in school!

isnt that crazy? I feel the same way. If I went to work, and i had to put both of my kids in daycare, it just wouldnt pan out. Id be working just to pay or the daycare. That is just absolutely crazy.

It is so disgusting to see how corporate america is making all the money even if they fail. Did you see the report yesterday about Nardelli (Home Depot CEO) walking away with 210 million in compensation because he failed to bring Home Depot the numbers expected? Is that fricken crazy or what? What the heck is going on?

sites like commondreams.org make a great alternative to the regular news media. They highlight a lot of this corporate obscenity that mainstream news outlets wont carry. There really is too much going on under the public radar. Corporations are turning civilisation into Metropolis. Corporate power and the "lobby system" are the biggest danger to the Constitution and the freedoms of Western cultures.

Thanks for adding on. Thank you for the site. I will have to check it out. I agree i think there is just such a great injustic on how the poor are being paid so little and the rich are being paid horrendous amounts of cash...Ugh, it just makes me naseous!(sorry i never know how to spell that word). YOu have been rated!

The school situation was a big eye opener. I have been taking hard look at my sons education and becoming more frustrated lately. With not being able to afford private school, we need to make some kind of change. The first change I am making is sending him to the best summer camp in the area where they have art, reading, sports, swimming, computer lab and library on a daily basis. The kids still get "play time" but they learn all summer as well and this give them an added edge. I hope I can get him in since the camp is run by a private school.

I agree that was so sad. Well, even my husband and I talk about our kids. And with all these reality shows and how some of them actually make stars (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, etc). And people being discovered through MyTube or whatever, we thought that by the time our kids grow older, that they wont have trouble getting discovered by the means that are just popping up like crazy out there. Who knows were our world will be then. But I think that education is the best bet. I might need to do some serious thinking about homeschooling and what would be best for their educational future. I have to tell you that the show really was eye opening for me.

i know, it seems like even when i was working we were still living paycheck to paycheck! i guess because we had more money it seems like we had more bills!

Im so with you on this point. Although she has a chart on her site about what categorizes upper, middle and lower class and we fall under upper class by the fnancial standards of that chart, but do not have Gucci sunglasses or the fanciest cars or the fanciest car. We also live from paycheck to paycheck and seems like all our money goes on mortgage, utilities, gas and groceries. Geez...how much money do you have to make to make ends meet?

I agree with you. Money just doesnt seem to go that far. I think another thing has to do with how social status seems to be such a bigger deal now than ever. Im not sure if it has to do that Im older and it seems to matter more amongst my peers, but I just can tangibly feel the difference when Im meeting new people how proud they are of their homes and how their homes look, etc. I cannot lie and say that I dont act the same way,but I can remember the time that my eyes were opened to how my home was "unnaceptable" amongst these "social lookers". It made me feel horrible to have a small house and not enough room to entertain. I had a lady tell me that my house was too small to have parties and therefore it was better if we did parties at hers. I dont act in a snooty way, but im very self conscious now about the way my house looks. I hate it, i really do, I just dont know how to get out of that cycle because I feel that everyone around me judge me because of they way my house looks, or what type of furniture I have, etc. Its horrible.

On the last paragraph, when I say that "I hate it", i didnt mean that i hate my small house. Im very thankful for what we have but what i meant was tht I hate the way that i feel tht i need to prove myself to others of what i have in the neighborhoods we live.

I agree, she seems to sensatinalize alot of topics. Thanks for the encouragement, nuffsaid, about getting a book. SWAK also recommended one. You both have been rated. Thanks.

That is fair comment. However any publicist knows that you have to grab peoples' attention because they are so numb with overkill and hype at every turn. :) Right on seek out the facts, turn off those damned soaps and get a book!!!

very true, i hope to go back to college when my daughter is in school, i have 18 units so far, which is a yr. and a half, so hopefully when i do it my kids can look up to me and c how needed a good eduacation is!

not true, some people can become educated and get great jobs so never say never, but the vast majority if they stay in the same boat then well they will eventually fall into the lower class bracket! my husband now makes good money, but we can't get my kids into daycare because of the expense, so i can't work, but when i do work we will make really good money together! and not struggle as much, but u're right it sucks how now a days both parents have to work and it has a huge effect on the kids!

Thanks for your comment. You have been rated.

yep...i think so. I try to keep my kids grounded but at times they have a sense of entitlement that I have to stop myself and put my foot down and say no to them. I hate going to the store with them because of the stress of having to say no to them. I do my grocery shopping online now.

I know!!! Where are all these billionaires comming from and so whats happening? The middle class is turning millionaires or falling back? I dont get it. Thanks for the comment.