Oh, I can't help myself, I have to post a point of disagreement with you pt.
A hundred years ago the middle class, as we know it, certainly did not exist. There was, of course, a middle class, but it was small, compared to the great masses of the poor and disadvantaged.
1903 was before child labor laws, before extensive unionization, and before significant mechanization of farm labor. Twelve hours days, six days a week were common. And, that paid for your subsistance, not for the second car, the horse used exclusively for recreation, the steak, the central heating, the tv's, the computers, etc., that all of us take for granted today. One hundred years ago most people worked for the clothes on their backs, the housing to keep themselves out of the elements, and the food for their stomachs, they didn't even consider "little luxuries".
I was fortunate enough to have an older father, who remembered those days well, and remembered the stories that his mother told about what life was like in the late 1800's. He hadn't considered himself as disadvantaged, by any means, but he constantly marvelled at the plenty that surrounded him in his later years. That generation has largely died out, but, talk to the generation that grew up during the depression, and went to fight WWII. They will tell you some truely fascinating, and horrifying stories.
IMHO the middle class as a modern day entity did not develop until after WWII. The last fifty years of the Twentieth Century has been a period of plenty, not experienced by great numbers of "common" people in any period of time that I can think of. There have been periods of plenty before, certainly, but that plenty was not shared by the great majority of people.
Sure, there are plenty of poor and disadvantaged people in the USA today, but, not nearly as many as there were in 1903, comparatively speaking. It is my belief that we have come a long way in the period of flight exploration.
You have many good points, pt (and loads of strength, to stand up to all of these discenting opinions without losing your cool, or your sense of humor). I know I am going to think long and hard about some of them, though, like you, I am unlikely to change my mind. My hat is off to you!
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This too, shall pass.
A hundred years ago the middle class, as we know it, certainly did not exist. There was, of course, a middle class, but it was small, compared to the great masses of the poor and disadvantaged.
1903 was before child labor laws, before extensive unionization, and before significant mechanization of farm labor. Twelve hours days, six days a week were common. And, that paid for your subsistance, not for the second car, the horse used exclusively for recreation, the steak, the central heating, the tv's, the computers, etc., that all of us take for granted today. One hundred years ago most people worked for the clothes on their backs, the housing to keep themselves out of the elements, and the food for their stomachs, they didn't even consider "little luxuries".
I was fortunate enough to have an older father, who remembered those days well, and remembered the stories that his mother told about what life was like in the late 1800's. He hadn't considered himself as disadvantaged, by any means, but he constantly marvelled at the plenty that surrounded him in his later years. That generation has largely died out, but, talk to the generation that grew up during the depression, and went to fight WWII. They will tell you some truely fascinating, and horrifying stories.
IMHO the middle class as a modern day entity did not develop until after WWII. The last fifty years of the Twentieth Century has been a period of plenty, not experienced by great numbers of "common" people in any period of time that I can think of. There have been periods of plenty before, certainly, but that plenty was not shared by the great majority of people.
Sure, there are plenty of poor and disadvantaged people in the USA today, but, not nearly as many as there were in 1903, comparatively speaking. It is my belief that we have come a long way in the period of flight exploration.
You have many good points, pt (and loads of strength, to stand up to all of these discenting opinions without losing your cool, or your sense of humor). I know I am going to think long and hard about some of them, though, like you, I am unlikely to change my mind. My hat is off to you!
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This too, shall pass.
We couldn't be further apart in our beliefs. 
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