The American middle class is hard-pressed today as a result of the diversion of income from the middle class to the richest Americans.

In 1972 the middle class had 52 % of US income; today it has 45% of income. It has shrunk in size. Middle class income has remained flat even though economy has steadily grown while income for the top .1% has skyrocketed. The prospects of middle class children are falling and middle class safety nets such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security may be gutted by entitlement reform.