Speaking of Americans’ incomes, we are repeatedly told that the rich hoard all the wealth and income in America and that socialist Europe has a more equal society. That’s the argument of the Democrat Socialists.

Wrong. America has by far the richest middle class. The chart below compares living standards across developed countries, excluding the top 1%.

America’s middle class has an income that is roughly 40% higher than the middle class in more socialist Europe, and was in 2024.  The U.S. economy and incomes have outperformed since then (see Item 1) so the gap has continued to widen.

Free markets create a rising tide that lifts all boats. Socialism creates a low tide that sinks all ships.