D0zer can you agree that at worst, the middle class worldwide is rapidly expanding due to globalization? Cause then we move into an area where you diagnose a country or region (for example the U.S. and Canada) with a pathology but acknowledge that the world at large is better off.

And again, I'd like to see some data to back up the statement that the middle class in America and/or Canada is shrinking. I don't doubt the possibility that this is true, I just think its something that's easy for people to say almost regardless of how the economy is going. Kind of like how aging pessimists always harp on about things are getting worse and worse in general, and pine for the "times when things were better." But then we look back objectively and realize, "hey things are actually getting a lot better."

And I'm not looking for that tired line chart that shows household incomes stagnating since the 50s or whatever. That chart has been largely debunked by a lot of things, including the fact that households have gotten smaller, benefits (if not wages) have increased significantly yet aren't covered by the chart, and purchasing power of currency (i.e. standard of living) has dramatically increased as well.