Growing Income Inequality Means Danger Ahead for Middle-Class Workers

A number of safety net programs established in the 1960s – Social Security, food stamps, Medicare and Medicaid, education and training programs, and other support to help families succeed – worked.

Today, these programs and the people who rely on them face a harsh assault by some Republicans. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R) has said that government assistance like food stamps and medical care is a form of slavery. Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan (R) believes that anti-poverty programs have "wrecked families and communities" and wants people to "dream again." According to a Ryan supporter, "You don't dream when you've got food stamps."

Middle-class families may think they're not in danger of losing the limited safety net that's in place to help us over tough economic times. They're wrong. A new article on AlterNet finds that "middle-class Americans are increasingly in danger of learning about poverty firsthand." Check it out here.