Losing the Middle

You might be expecting an inspiring weight loss story, but no, in the time of pandemic that is but a pipe dream.  Rather this is another nostalgia piece, this time over shrinking middle class America.

Growing up in the small town of Lowry in the 50’s, I didn’t know any poor people. Oh, there were a few families that lived across the tracks that were “needy”, but poor - not in our town. 

Most people lived in single family homes but some families lived in apartments: Molander Apartments, Lowry Flats or other rental properties. Several Main Street businesses had apartments above the business level: McIver’s Store, Chan’s Tavern, Lowry Telephone and the Dahl House.

My first six years were in an apartment above the Dahl House. From the alley in the back, it could have been mistaken for a big city tenement.  But in my memory it was great. The stairs led straight to Hank Bosek's roof and in the winter the snow banked high allowing for "jumping off the roof". 

My mom worked as a nurse for Doc McIver my dad worked as an electrician for Hoplin & Nelson.  Most apartment dwellers were retired, single parents or families trying to save enough for a down payment on an $5000 home. Lowry State Bank was notoriously conservative in its lending practice having survived the depression without being forced into closure. My father was turned down by LSB as a poor risk- and 2 other banks as well - even though the the Hoplin family had operated a business in Lowry since 1916. Luckily, WWII vets had the option of appealing to the Veterans Administration for a loan, so in 1953 my father obtained a 3% loan for $8500  ($38/mo) to build a home on Drury Ave. 

So, in 1953 our family moved from Dahl House apartment, straddling the poverty line to 249 Drury Lane, lower middle class. Mom was no longer "working", rather managing a home, cooking 3 meals a day & 2 little kids. Also money management & paying the bills, unusual for the day.  My father worked 6 days a week from 7 AM to 6 PM, plus summer Saturday nights at the hardware store when the county came to town (see: Saturday Night). Sunday morning church & Sunday School. Summer Sunday afternoons at the Lowry Leghorns ballgame. And Sunday nights were generally devoted to working on next week work plan and bids for future electrical or plumbing work. (Not to mention, emergency calls at all hours - doctors had nothing on Glenn Hoplin).  Not exactly the Life of Riley.

From my POV, we were comfortable. There was always good food on the table - mom was a great cook - but the boiled ring baloney once a week was not my cup of tea - to mix a metaphor. I had my very own room. I'd get a new pair of Buster Brown's and a winter jacket from Bob's Clothes Shop in Alex every fall. And a pair of Red Ball Jets from McIver's Store for the summer and skates from Hoplin & Nelson for the winter.  Eating out was Sunday dinner at Esthers and a trip to the Starbuck DQ a couple times a month in the summer. That was about the extent of the luxuries. There was usually vanilla ice cream in the freezer tho. 

There were a couple Lowry swells who purchased a new car every 2 or 3 years but most people drove theirs to the ground. Our family did not own a car until 1960 and that was a hand-me-down '57 Buick from Uncle Dave. We made due with the work truck, packing the 4 of us into the seatbeltless cab. On the rare vacation or trip to Iowa or Minneapolis to see the sisters, Uncle Dave graciously made loan of his Buick. 

We did have a black & white TV pretty early, coupled with a tower antenna on the south side of the house. The nearest stations were 150 miles away in the Twin Cities so reception was sketchy at best.  I spent considerable time fiddling with the rotor to try to position the antenna so I could make out Roy Rogers in the snow. In the late 50's, Alexandria brought KCMT & Huntley-Brinkley to the area, assuring 1 clear channel.

This is a pretty typical story of small town USA in the 50's and I think a fair description of middle class life in rural America.  Hard working, optimistic families striving to secure home ownership and improved quality of life. 

This picture of course is no longer familiar.  The middle class doubled in numbers in the 50's but since the 80's has been dropping precipitously. A middle class existence now requires two wage earners with families one serious illness away from bankruptcy. (Covid of course changes this equation even more radically) Small towns are on the wane, losing their young people, their schools, churches and businesses. (Covid is accelerating this)

The wage and wealth gap is ripping a hole in the middle. The country is dividing between the very wealthy and the working poor. As the old saw goes .. "thems whats gots keeps."  

And a few data points.

The pay gap between CEO's and their workers is now roughly 270x, CEO's averaging ~$15 million/yr. Average USA wage is ~$52K but this is misleading because the very high earners jack the average up.  The median wage is $34K, which means 1/2 earn less than that. 34M people live below the poverty line. The top 1% reap 20% of the income and own 80% of the wealth.

Source: Census.gov 

Source: EPI.org

The minimum wage in 2020 is $7.25/hr.  For full-time (40 hrs/wk) employment, this yields $14,500/yr before deductions.

Think about it.

Copyright © 2020 Dave Hoplin