SOCIETAL CLASSES

Many countries still have formalised "classes".  We are not supposed to have classes here in the USA but it seems we do.  The most famous is the "middle class".  That's because it's the only one we ever acknowledge.

Everyone talks about "the middle class".  If there is a "middle" then it must be encircled by something or be led and followed by something else or have something above and below  it.  I've never heard of a left or right class, a front or back class or an encircling class so all that is left is one above and one below, an "upper" and "lower" class.  Why do you suppose those two are omitted from our dialogue?  The explanation for "lower class" is easy because it has an insulting connotation.  The "upper class" would love the name because it implies superiority.  The "middle class" should be offended because it implies mediocrity.

If we are not going to name the other two classes, the middle class should demand that the expression be exterminated.  Why should it be singled out as a class while others escape?  The problem is that there is no descriptive word to substitute which would not be offensive. Try, "the mediocre class".  Doesn't work.  "Working class". Everyone works.  "The working class that gets dirty". That's close but offensive.  "The white collar working class which stays clean".  That's too long and no one wears white collars anymore.  The best I can come up with are: "Lower, middle class", "Middle, middle class" and "Upper, middle class".  That would keep us all in the middle somewhere, it's just that some would be richer than most and some would be poorer than most.

This is all too confusing.  I guess we should stay with what we have, the rich, the poor and those in the "MIDDLE", neither rich nor poor.  Just leave off the word "class".