Without a "class war," Democrats don't do all that well. It is in their interest to have people believe that there is an unredeemable underclass in this country, defined by either income, race, age, or some other factor, and that these people can only survive by increasing the power of the government to control and redistribute wealth.

While there are people in economic trouble, always have been, and always will be, and sometimes the trouble is serious, in this country by and large "poor" is relative term. (before people squawk at the source, note that there are references).

Ordinary income figures are used constantly in political debates. That a large number of services--the same government and other services that are intended to help the poor--are not included in this income is misleading at best, and an attempt at political fraud at worst.

The last thing the Democrats in this country want to see is the poor become middle class and upper middle class. Such people tend to start thinking of themselves as tax producers, not tax users, and that's not good for the party. A permanent underclass is useful, and if the facts don't back that up very well, fudge them.

Conservatives have no motive to keep people in poverty. A well-off person often tends to be a Republican. Can you say the same for Democrats?