Which is to their credit. They have very creatively taken advantage of all the special programs and giveaways the upper classes have provided them to buy their votes. But they also have a sense of entitlement concerning these middle class welfare programs. And if it comes to a showdown whether they or the poor get government help, the middle class will declare they should get the lion's share because THEY DESERVE IT. After all, don't they work harder, obey the law, wait their turn, fear god, have family values, have ambition, are more patriotic, are willing to defer expectations, etc, etc, etc; I'm sure you know the catechism by heart. And they have shown themselves eager to support upper-class and corporate welfare grabs if they feel it helps them get their goodies, or at least, as long as it doesn't interfere with them getting their benefits. In other words, they are perfectly ready to sell out the poor and kiss the collective asses of the rich.

Unfortunately, times are getting tough, and someone's going to have to get his cutbacks. The poor came first, now its the middle that's getting hit. The middle interprets this as an "attack on the middle class". It isn't really, it just means the war front is finally reaching them. That's why we call it "income inequality", because somebody in this unholy trio is doing better than ever!

The middle class also senses the distrust the other classes have of them. The lowers think they are pushy and spoiled, the johnny-come-latelies, and lump them together with the upper class. The upper class also sees them as pushy and spoiled, the nouveau riche, and lumps them with the lower class. Everybody dumps on them, and they know it. As usual, the French have a phrase for it, "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeosie".

Its called divide-and-conquer, or class warfare. But the middle class can't really be blamed for instigating it. For that, we have to ask who tends to benefit the most.