Strictly in income terms, the US has a smallish middle class compared to other rich countries - we've got more rich and more poor. You'd never know that from our popular discourse, however. But you can tell people they're not middle class all you like and you're lucky not to get punched in the face.
Doug
^^^^^^ CB; I hear people say fairly commonly that "they are wiping out the middle class; there will just be rich and poor."