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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Republicans, Democrats and 'the Middle Class'

In both Tampa and Charlotte, speaker after speaker tried to identify with "the Middle Class" and echoed the theme of upward mobility and fulfillment of "the American Dream." That's been a staple of presidential campaigns since the end of World War II. But in recent decades, "the Middle Class" has been shrinking.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

In both Tampa and Charlotte, speaker after speaker tried to identify with "the Middle Class" and echoed the theme of upward mobility and fulfillment of "the American Dream." That's been a staple of presidential campaigns since the end of World War II. But in recent decades, "the Middle Class" has been shrinking. Do Democrats and Republicans even agree any more on what "Middle Class" really means? Do potential voters still share "the American Dream?" We hear about traditional slogans, contemporary realities and this year's promises from both political parties.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Anna Scott

    Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

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    Frances Anderton

    architecture critic and author

  • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

    Sonya Geis

    Senior Managing Editor

  • KCRW placeholder

    Hedrick Smith

    PBS Frontline Producer

  • KCRW placeholder

    Paul Taylor

    author and demographer

  • KCRW placeholder

    Samuel Popkin

    University of California, San Diego

    NewsNationalPolitics
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