original article define it literally folks U.S. News & World Report folks Robert Reich's proposed definition of the middle class more learned economist more learned economist US counterparts more learned economist being in the middle class folks more learned economist more learned economist folks folks Robert Reich's proposed definition of the middle class more learned economist folks more learned economist more learned economist folks middle class folks more learned economist folks more learned economist folks more learned economist folks folks folks middle class more learned economist although that categorization is far from perfect more learned economist more learned economist making $25,500 annually original article more learned economist Robert Reich's proposed definition of the middle class folks usnews.com middle class folks