From 2003 to 2004, the average incomes of the bottom 99 percent of households grew by less than 3 percent, after adjusting for inflation. In contrast, the average incomes of the top one percent of households experienced a jump of more than 18 percent, after adjusting for inflation.

In fact, it’s worse than that. The CBPP explained that the enormous gains at the top of the income pyramid caused a rise of income as a whole. But median income dropped between 2003 and 2004, and has not risen appreciably since then. In short, while the rich get richer, the middle class is shrinking, as economist Paul Krugman has pointed out.

"Holding Action", or "Retreat" is a good way to put it. I can't understand why the "average Joe" who finds himself in this holding action or retreat keeps voting against his or her own economic interests. So many people have succumbed to the fairy tale Horatio Alger story, or the 'Pull yourself up by your bootstraps" mentality that it boggles the mind. So much words are being issued about "family values", and yet the middle class family is suffering through this holding action with both parents working just to stay afloat. People or so afraid of taking about "class warfare" that they have surrendered to the money interests without even knowing that they raised the white flag voluntarily. Hard to understand!