>>>lower-middle-class whites--those making between $30,000 and
>>>$50,000
>>
>>Huh? Median income in 2004 was $44,389. $30,000 is 68% of the
>>median, and $50,000 is 113%. How is that "lower-middle class"?
>
>Damn good question.
>
>How is middle class defined?
Depends. There's a "sociological" definition, that depends on one's occupation. Professionals, the self-employed, small businesspersons, etc. There's a more "economic" one that's based on income; a common version of that is a household with an income between 63% and 150% of the median. Mostly, middle class is a pretty mushy concept that serves to mystify one's social position.
Doug