Where does the working class fit, Sorcha? To my mind, the middle class is also the working class- unless you're talking about working with one's hands. And that means 'blue collar', versus white collar and even pink collar.

And 'low class' is not the same as the working class- it's more 'low lifers', right? Like drug dealers, thieves, maybe even the silent gatherers under the street lights in the middle of the night. On the other hand, that would include the homeless - and the homeless are not necessarily low lifers. Ah, 'tis so confusing.

The 'working poor', however, are those who work slavishly- and can barely make it financially. Probably can't afford health insurance, try to get by without vehicle insurance, try to NEVER go to the doctor or the dentist... These are the people, by and large, who didn't finish high school in an age when a college degree means about the same thing that a high school diploma meant a generation ago.

Upper middleclass to me denotes the bankers, the corporate warm bodies, the governmental ambassadors, the social climbers, the ones who try so hard to appear swave and debonner...

I haven't known too many (maybe none) of what I would call the Upper Crust- that to me means the few who live very well indeed off the interest of working money.

My guess is that each of us would mentally divides these classes differently.

It's been a long time since this subject has even occurred to me. Thanks, Sorcha. This country is kind of weird.

Ebbie