tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post9082554634194864434..comments2024-02-13T10:20:04.888+00:00Comments on David Hepworth's blog: Have the middle classes gone downmarket?David Hepworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05973053694541321308noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-67957438702006977362010-12-01T08:51:44.202+00:002010-12-01T08:51:44.202+00:00Doesn't middle class just mean "not havin...Doesn't middle class just mean "not having to save up all year to pay for your summer holiday"?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11015741906151106371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-90334274930493913592010-11-30T19:14:45.771+00:002010-11-30T19:14:45.771+00:00I'm still trying to work out what in the hell ...I'm still trying to work out what in the hell he means by 'the squeezed middle.' In days gone by you pretty much knew what politicians (of any persuasion) were banging on about - it tended to be written in Plain(ish) English. Now it's so deeply encrypted as to be virtually impenetrable.John Meddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547777949324509522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-5515846177511604712010-11-30T19:13:58.683+00:002010-11-30T19:13:58.683+00:00When I was growing up, middle-class meant anyone t...When I was growing up, middle-class meant anyone that took the train to work. This was reinforced by watching Reggie Perrin.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07674003201237919620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38548109.post-45905579632613408392010-11-30T15:13:10.014+00:002010-11-30T15:13:10.014+00:00I suspect the widening of the term "middle cl...I suspect the widening of the term "middle class" is because the term "working class" traditionally included manufacturing blue-collar jobs.<br /><br />Even a modest office worker may feel odd calling themselves "working class" because they don't come home each night covered in soot or grease. They may default to middle class, especially if they have their own home as you say.<br /><br />By referring to middle class people in that way, they aim to categorise people above benefit cheats and scrounging layabouts, and below the tax-dodging elite. Forgive me for lapsing into Daily Mail speak there...<br /><br />However, it is ironic if the term "working class" now means something closer to the scrounging, benefit-cheating class of people.Graemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17769351575516699224noreply@blogger.com