{"id":2635580,"date":"2026-07-26T07:04:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T11:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-socialists-of-americas-deceptive-definition-of-working-class\/"},"modified":"2026-07-26T07:08:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T11:08:10","slug":"democratic-socialists-of-americas-deceptive-definition-of-working-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-socialists-of-americas-deceptive-definition-of-working-class\/","title":{"rendered":"Democratic Socialists of America&#8217;s deceptive definition of working class"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocratic-socialists-of-americas-deceptive-definition-of-working-class%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2635580&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article criticizes the Democratic socialist narrative that broadly defines the \u201cworking class\u201d to include almost anyone earning wages, regardless of their actual socioeconomic status.It highlights how public figures like Graham Platner and Zohran Mamdani attempt to expand the definition of working class to justify higher taxes on the wealthy, including those earning over a million dollars annually.The piece argues that such broad definitions are misleading and serve to divert attention from the fact that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uh-oh-joe-bidens-plan-to-hike-taxes-is-losing-momentum-fight-may-be-over\/\" title=\"Uh Oh: Joe Biden\u2019s Plan To Hike ... Is \u2018Losing Momentum,\u2019 Fight May Be \u2018Over\u2019\">significant tax increases<\/a> would ultimately impact middle-income and wealthy individuals, not just a specific \u201cworking class.\u201d It emphasizes that many top earners derive most of their income from wages and labor, contradicting the socialist portrayal of the wealthy as idle or distant from working people.Additionally, it points out that implementing socialist policies like Medicare for All and other expansive welfare programs would require <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-democrat-leadership-is-terrifying\/\" title=\"Why Democrat Leadership is Terrifying\">massive tax hikes<\/a>, which would disproportionately affect the middle class. The article concludes that the socialist stance relies on deception, falsely claiming that ordinary Americans are part of the \u201cworking class\u201d to avoid acknowledging the actual financial burden such policies would impose on them.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\">Graham Platner<\/a> was forced to bail from his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\">Maine<\/a> Senate bid over multiple allegations of domestic violence and sexual abuse, the silver spoon \u201cdemocratic\u201d socialist said something dumb enough that it should have proven as disqualifying as the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/restoring-america\/equality-not-elitism\/4614973\/collins-has-flaws-platner-has-a-totenkopf\/\">Nazi tattoo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy definition of working class these days is essentially anybody who makes money from wages,\u201d Platner said. \u201cIf you work for a living and you go out and put in hours and you pay taxes just like everyone else, I think that\u2019s quite fair.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4663195\/paramount-delays-warner-bros-merger-legal-roadblocks\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Paramount delays Warner Bros. merger amid legal roadblocks<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4660730\/taco-bell-ditches-lettuce-offers-deals-cyclospora-outbreak\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Taco Bell ditches lettuce, offers $1 deals after cyclospora outbreak<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4660269\/eu-fine-google-1-billion-antitrust-violations\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>EU fines Google $1 billion over antitrust violations<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time, Platner was ridiculed despite his public posturing as the Democratic Party\u2019s new <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4641805\/radical-socialist-democrats-pretend-blue-collar-allies\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4641805\/radical-socialist-democrats-pretend-blue-collar-allies\/\">working-class everyman<\/a>. Though he did not fit that definition, as the son of an upscale restaurateur and an attorney. And as someone who survived on 100% disability benefits. But it\u2019s Platner\u2019s definition itself that deserves derision since his broad definition of \u201cworking class\u201d is so vast as to be rendered useless. It\u2019s also a recurring obfuscation designed by socialists. To divert attention from the fact that working-class people would see a dramatically higher tax bill to pay for their policy wish list.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\">Democratic Socialists of America celebrate following a vote by the Rent Guidelines Board in New York, on June 25, 2026,  to\u00a0freeze\u00a0rents\u00a0for roughly one million stabilized apartments. (Adam Gray\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/GettyImages-2282814398.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Democratic Socialists of America celebrate following a vote by the Rent Guidelines Board in New York, on June 25, 2026,  to\u00a0freeze\u00a0rents\u00a0for roughly one million stabilized apartments. (Adam Gray\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For starters, the share of people who make the overwhelming majority of their living from wage income is largely among those not yet retired. The top 1% of 35-year-olds are bringing in an average of $460,011. Over 90% of which comes from their salaries or wages. Not from capital gains or other non-labor income. Income from the top 1% of 45-year-olds stems 97% of income from their labor. And the top 1% of 55-year-olds, over 85%. America\u2019s richest 10%, far from being idle nobility, work over four hours per week longer than our poorest decile.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During an interview with the <em>New York Times<\/em>, the Big Apple\u2019s socialist superstar of a mayor tried to refine the \u201cworking class\u201d definition only to make it even less comprehensible. While <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\">Zohran Mamdani <\/a>initially parroted Platner\u2019s platitude that to be working class means merely \u201cif you have to work to pay your bills.\u201d But when the Gray Lady pushed back on whether Mamdani would consider a lawyer earning a quarter-million dollars a year, Mamdani narrowed the definition by expanding it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve drawn [the line] at about a million dollars a year,\u201d said Mamdani, who went on to try and equivocate by rejecting the importance of even having a definition of the term, but with one major accidental admission: \u201cYes, I do want to raise taxes on people who make more than a million dollars a year.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only material difference delineated by the socialists\u2019 \u201cworking class\u201d obsession is that anyone who doesn\u2019t fit the definition will foot the bill. That\u2019s what makes it telling that Mamdani, Platner, and the rest of the socialists don\u2019t define the term as non-college graduates, people of color, union members, or even blue-collar workers as opposed to service workers. Rather, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >downwardly mobile trust fund brats<\/a> who got kicked out of $71,000 boarding schools (Platner) get to feel like they stand in solidarity with actual factory workers and single moms just because they racked up six figures in student debt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the reason that this nonsensical definition is as malicious as it is moronic is that reserving tax hikes for seven-figure earners and a nearly nonexistent class of uberwealthy who generate the bulk of their income from assets rather than labor cannot remotely pay for the Democratic Socialists of America\u2019s promises. When \u201cthe Squad\u2019s\u201d lodestar policy proposal of Medicare for All was first scored in 2018, economists estimated it would cost some $32 trillion over one decade, or well north of $43 trillion in 2026 dollars. Liquidating <em>all<\/em> of the assets of the nation\u2019s top 1% would generate a one-time payment of barely that much.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reality is affording the sort of universal healthcare enjoyed in Europe requires charging the sort of universal taxation rates of Europe\u2019s working classes. The Cato Institute found that the average worker in Europe paid roughly half of their earnings in taxes, or nearly $12,000 more in annual taxes than the average American. The figure held across the income scale: A single worker earning $50,000 in 2024 paid 43% of their income in taxes in Europe but only 29% in the U.S.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4648299\/tianas-take-how-uncle-sam-saved-my-life\/\">HOW UNCLE SAM SAVED MY LIFE <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Medicare for All, of course, is only the tip of the iceberg for the insurgent faction of the Democratic Party. On top of universal healthcare, the DSA\u2019s party platform calls for extending welfare to all illegal immigrants while ending all deportations, canceling all student debt, offering universal pre-K, passing a Green New Deal, and establishing \u201cpublic ownership of the largest corporations and essential industries to ensure democratic control and accountability to the people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Any plebian with a calculator and ChatGPT could tally all these campaign promises up and realize that the actual working class would have to see massive tax hikes to bankroll these proposals, so DSA disciples have to hope that you\u2019re as dumb as they are and claim that you \u2014 even the lawyers, investment bankers, doctors, and trust fund losers who squandered unprecedented privilege to join the professional activist class \u2014 are a member of the working class. Implicit in that promise is a lie that you will not be made to foot the bill.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Tiana Lowe Doescher (<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TianaTheFirst\">@TianaTheFirst<\/a>) is an economics columnist for the <\/em>Washington Examiner<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Graham Platner&#8217;s flawed view of the working class<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2693,"featured_media":2635581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2282814398.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[67238,83208,55476],"class_list":["post-2635580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democratic-socialism","tag-political-deception","tag-working-class-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2282814398.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2693"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2635580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2635584,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635580\/revisions\/2635584"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2635581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2635580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2635580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2635580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}