David Brooks wrote an op-ed today stating that our current recession will affect the middle class more than any other sociological group. "In particular, it's likely to produce a new social group; the formerly middle class. These are people who achieved middle-class status at the tail end of the long boom, and then lost it. to them, the gap between where they are and where they used to be will seem wide and daunting."
Hmm. So, no Blanche DuBois losing it over the sale of the family estate Belle Reeve in Laurel, Mississippi; no grieving family listening to their beloved cherry orchard being cut down in late 19th century Russia, symbolizing the downfall of the aristocracy following the abolition of serfdom. Nope, this time it's about the bourgeoise. The middle-class, new money folk, who rose on their own by working hard and saving their money.
Bring on the literature exploring their plight.
p.s. I work at a fine-dining establishment. If the aristocracy is chilling, then why don't they come eat anymore???
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2 comments:
no more middle class was the goal of Bush
Dad
I selfishly believe that the true brunt of this legacy will be borne by today's once-richer liberal arts graduates. Raised to have good taste but now unable to afford anything, they find themselves trapped in a DuBoisian double-consciousness, routinely reading about new restaurants in the New York Times Dining Out section while eating spam and bread.
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