re: I'm sick of people saying the middle class is worse off than 4 decades ago.

There is not rebuttal to your misguided claim. You claim that because the middle class has a few luxury items they are better off.

I grew up in the all american middle class neighborhood in the 70's. Not one single family used a clothesline to dry their clothes. Every one of my friends had an Atari. Color television set in every bedroom.

If we use your measure for being better off, then there is very little poverty in this country.