[TriangleTree]

I'm actually enjoying this thread, if not necessarily the acrimonious tone. Having said that, I think the tone shows precisely the high emotions that run behind it, which I see closely related to the polarization of political views on a grander scale.

I see both points of views.
One can easily argue that it is elitist and bordering on offensive to suggest that an income in the top 10th percentile (in one of the wealthiest countries in the world) cannot support a comfortable living. Plenty of people do and do amazingly well on much less.
On the other hand, it is very clear to me that a new priviledged class is breaking away from the pack that now has access to "priviledges" like private education, which used to be accessible to upper middle and even middle classes. Keeping up with that break away group, not in terms of comfort and extravagances but say, in terms of affording the same opportunities for ones' children, is becoming increasingly difficult without significant economic sacrifices (far from those that would be considered extravagant) even on the very nice incomes described in this thread. If that's how the upper middle class feels, how can the middle class possibly be coping?

Interesting times indeed, and as the political theatre is showing, somewhat worrying.

[TriangleTree]

I'm actually enjoying this thread, if not necessarily the acrimonious tone. Having said that, I think the tone shows precisely the high emotions that run behind it, which I see closely related to the polarization of political views on a grander scale.

I see both points of views.
One can easily argue that it is elitist and bordering on offensive to suggest that an income in the top 10th percentile (in one of the wealthiest countries in the world) cannot support a comfortable living. Plenty of people do and do amazingly well on much less.
On the other hand, it is very clear to me that a new priviledged class is breaking away from the pack that now has access to "priviledges" like private education, which used to be accessible to upper middle and even middle classes. Keeping up with that break away group, not in terms of comfort and extravagances but say, in terms of affording the same opportunities for ones' children, is becoming increasingly difficult without significant economic sacrifices (far from those that would be considered extravagant) even on the very nice incomes described in this thread. If that's how the upper middle class feels, how can the middle class possibly be coping?

Interesting times indeed, and as the political theatre is showing, somewhat worrying.