Measure happiness, not doing fine.

Measure life expectancy, not doing fine.

Measure inequality, not doing fine.

Measure political polarization, not doing fine.

Measure carbon emissions, not doing fine.

Measure homelessness, not doing fine.

Measure quality/cost of healthcare, not doing fine.

Measure the cost of college education, not doing fine.

Growing up my family could afford a middle-class lifestyle, house, two cars, medical insurance, minibikes, vacations on just my father's income with just a BA degree. My mom only went to work (part time) after the nest was empty and that was because she was bored.

No, the U.S.A. is not going to lose it pre-eminent position as the world's leading economy but that doesn't mean that the U.S. middle class is not seeing a drop in their standard of living.

TEK