Wisconsin's middle class is shrinking faster than in any other state
.Rss@dailykos.com (laura Clawson)
Friday, March 27, 2015, 10:19 pm
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Inequality is rising and the American middle class is shrinking. But nowhere is it shrinking faster than in Wisconsin:
In 2000, 54.6 percent of Wisconsin families fell into the middle class category but that has fallen to 48.9 percent in 2013, according to U.S. Census figures compiled by Pew.
All other states showed some decline but none as great as Wisconsin's 5.7 percent figure.
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Wisconsin's median household income fell 14.7 percent during those years.
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Obviously this decline pre-dates Scott Walker's election as governor, but it's safe to say that Walker's terrible job creation record, a poor record even according to the Chamber of Commerce, isn't helping. Neither is saying the minimum wage "doesn't serve a purpose," or attacking the unions that reduce inequality, or slashing education funding. Walker was able to get elected by playing on the fears of voters in a shrinking middle class, but his agenda was always aimed at accelerating the decline.
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