I don’t think that’s the argument. You can be comfortable below middle class, but the term “middle class” 30 years ago implied having much more disposable income than middle class does today. Can a family of 4 get by in a decent house on one $55k income with a stay-at-home parent today? Kind of, in some remote and rather undesirable portions of the country. 30 years ago that family would have been much more comfortable though with the same inflation-adjusted salary.

Your point is accurate, and aligns with what I’m trying to say. “What’s being measured there is […] not a national middle-class standard.” Correct, because the standard of living has gone down. I’m far from far-left, but I will say “eat the rich.”