XPost: phl.media, pa.politics   
   From: kybyrd@pobox.upenn.edu   
      
   On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 08:37:31 -0500, Shawn Hirn  wrote:   
   >In article ,   
   > Art Clemons  wrote:   
   >   
   >> Adolphe Menjou wrote:   
   >>   
   >> > You really need to get your facts straight.   
   >> >   
   >> > Yo don't know the difference between the middle class and the working   
   >> > class in the US.   
   >> >   
   >>   
   >> You don't seem to base your definition of middle class on the amount of   
   >> income earned, yet most economists and many sociologists do.  I suggest you   
   >> take up your argument with them and indeed most members of the US populace   
   >> before starting this one.  In this nation at least, a plumber for example   
   >> is accorded middle class status   
   >   
   >Really? Every survey I have ever seen that included dimensions of SES   
   >included income is a major factor and in many, occupation is not even   
   >mentioned.   
   >   
   >One of my dad's best friends is a plumber; he replaced my parents   
   >heating system a few years ago. I find it hard to view this plumber as   
   >anything but upper class. He owns a very busy plumbing and heating   
   >business with something like 10 full time plumbers, a few part time   
   >people, and he owns a very nice home in Philadelphia, plus he owns a few   
   >properties outside the United States that he rents or uses for vacation   
   >purposes.   
      
   Does this fellow still actually do plumbing work? If he's shifted   
   all the actual work to employees and he's just the boss then   
   you are right. He's shifted class.   
      
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