In this linear cartoon economic world of yours, when does someone stop being one of "them" (a businessman) and become one of "us?" Where's the line between "worker" and "boss?" If I work for someone, but others work for me, is everyone a "boss" except the guy at the bottom? Is it defined by income? Whether or not you wear a tie? Is it only real "work" if you're swinging a wrench instead of a computer program? Is management "work?" Ever try it?

Do you have to own stock in the company to be a "businessman?" What if you're an employee, and still own stock? Is the guy who owns the restaurant downtown a "them?" Is he only a "them" if he starts a chain? Where is the line where the small businessman becomes an evil capitalist? A public offering? Are you bad if you're a banker, even if you're just one of the loan officers? Is any manager evil, or do you have to be a CEO to lose your moral standing?

I used to have fun poking leftist idiot students at Stanford who were telling me about how the "middle class" was taking it in the chops. I'd ask them to define where somebody's income took them out of the "middle class" and into the "evil rich." Usually that stumped them at first - defined terms being like kryptonite to a leftist - but they'd come up with something after a while. Some outlandish income figure like $100,000 a year. Wonder what they'd think of that now. Of course, no politician would be stupid enough to quantify that term in a speech. The entire meme relies firmly on every listener - across an entire income spectrum - being absolutely sure they were one of those abused "middle class" members.