The Sandwich Class

[jw5]

There's always a lot of talk about helping the sandwich class in this economic downturn. By "sandwich" class, I assume they mean the middle class, those families which are neither too rich nor too poor.

How should we define the sandwich class? Difficult to define based on income, as there are some people with large amounts of wealth, including in property or stocks, but little or no income. Difficult to define based on property they live in, as some people who live in condos or landed property are struggling to pay their mortgage. Perhaps it can be defined based on net assets or cash on hand.

Whatever the definition, perhaps most of the people here are in this sandwich class. Although I can understand an overall policy taking into account the needs and wants of the sandwich class, I don't see how and why this class should be given priority in terms of help or assistance from public policy. Shouldn't the really poor and needy be given help first? Shouldn't any direct assistance be given to them first? Should financial help or assistance based on public policy be given to those who are trying to buy a car or trying to upgrade from a 3 room to a 4 room flat or hoping to buy an LCD TV for the first time? They (or we) can jolly well take the bus or stay in a 3 room flat or watch a normal TV while times are bad and adjust when things are better right?

Why is there always the call to assist the sandwich class? Shouldn't the poor be given the utmost priority?

 

[eeoror88]

DP ??

 

[cheekenpie]

You have to super ultra poor to be considered poor in singapore.

The poor alreadie get all the attention.

 

[captainxerox]

remember the middle class as the new poor? lol

 

[DerekLeung]

You have to super ultra poor to be considered poor in singapore.

The poor alreadie get all the attention.

Whahahahahh .......being poor got it's perks you know !

 

[silverfox@]

There's always a lot of talk about helping the sandwich class in this economic downturn. By "sandwich" class, I assume they mean the middle class, those families which are neither too rich nor too poor.

How should we define the sandwich class? Difficult to define based on income, as there are some people with large amounts of wealth, including in property or stocks, but little or no income. Difficult to define based on property they live in, as some people who live in condos or landed property are struggling to pay their mortgage. Perhaps it can be defined based on net assets or cash on hand.

Whatever the definition, perhaps most of the people here are in this sandwich class. Although I can understand an overall policy taking into account the needs and wants of the sandwich class, I don't see how and why this class should be given priority in terms of help or assistance from public policy. Shouldn't the really poor and needy be given help first? Shouldn't any direct assistance be given to them first? Should financial help or assistance based on public policy be given to those who are trying to buy a car or trying to upgrade from a 3 room to a 4 room flat or hoping to buy an LCD TV for the first time? They (or we) can jolly well take the bus or stay in a 3 room flat or watch a normal TV while times are bad and adjust when things are better right?

Why is there always the call to assist the sandwich class? Shouldn't the poor be given the utmost priority?

The pt would be most people want to improve their lives.
I am sure you would too.
The poor wanting to improve so they wouldn't be in poverty
The middle end wanting to improve so they can rub shoulders with the rich
The rich wanting to improve so that they can be in the super rich league.

 

[middaydog]

_ and I thought you were talking about going to Paris to learn how to make sandwich

 

[lolabunny]

The pt would be most people want to improve their lives.
I am sure you would too.
The poor wanting to improve so they wouldn't be in poverty
The middle end wanting to improve so they can rub shoulders with the rich
The rich wanting to improve so that they can be in the super rich league.

Whatever happened to the pursuit of happiness or more love? Sigh. Sad place the world has become. It's all about money now.

 

[silverfox@]

Whatever happened to the pursuit of happiness or more love? Sigh. Sad place the world has become. It's all about money now.

Are you an idealist or realist?

Whichever country you go to, even Australia, you still need money.

 

[65er]

The sandwich class are those not in the outter bread-layer classes. One piece of bread is made of people who have money without the need to work hence recession proof (top 1-2 percentile), and the other bread are those who won't be able to feed themselve even on good time (bottome 20%). These 2 groups remains status quo in bad time.

The rest who need to work to survive are dangerous lot because they could lose a job in bad economic time and become financially troubled. The society will become volatile when large chunk of people default on loan and could not afford neccesity to keep family.

 

[lolabunny]

Are you an idealist or realist?

Whichever country you go to, even Australia, you still need money.

I'm a romantic? :p

 

[jw5]

The pt would be most people want to improve their lives.
I am sure you would too.
The poor wanting to improve so they wouldn't be in poverty
The middle end wanting to improve so they can rub shoulders with the rich
The rich wanting to improve so that they can be in the super rich league.

Agree. I get the point.
But I'm referring to public policy and the rendering of immediate help and assistance based on priority.
The calls should be first to help the really poor and needy, then the next priority would be the sandwich class.
But the calls are very often to "help the sandwich class". That in my opinion is neither the priority nor the most pressing problem.

 

[jw5]

The sandwich class are those not in the outter bread-layer classes. One piece of bread is made of people who have money without the need to work hence recession proof (top 1-2 percentile), and the other bread are those who won't be able to feed themselve even on good time (bottome 20%). These 2 groups remains status quo in bad time.

The rest who need to work to survive are dangerous lot because they could lose a job in bad economic time and become financially troubled. The society will become volatile when large chunk of people default on loan and could not afford neccesity to keep family.

Yes, some of the sandwich class may become poor during a prolonged economic crisis.
So they will be classified as the poor who will need immediate attention.
I'm just saying that those who can still manage, should and the government should help those who are struggling first. For those who feel stifled in their 3 room flats or are thinking of having a flat screen tv or are wanting to get their first car, wait for the good times to do or get these things.

 

[lolabunny]

Yes, some of the sandwich class may become poor during a prolonged economic crisis.
So they will be classified as the poor who will need immediate attention.
I'm just saying that those who can still manage, should and the government should help those who are struggling first. For those who feel stifled in their 3 room flats or are thinking of having a flat screen tv or are wanting to get their first car, wait for the good times to do or get these things.

When will the good times come?

 

[zhihau]

Why is there always the call to assist the sandwich class? Shouldn't the poor be given the utmost priority?

bro,

i agree with you that the poorest should be given utmost priority.