patrick.net

rootvg says

We aren't rich but we're making more money than we've ever made in our lives.

So you are better off than you were four years ago.

http://economywatch.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/18/13939069-the-47-percent-heres-who-pays-no-federal-income-tax?lite

That 47% are considered poor already.
Let’s consider one example of cost of outsourcing: A man use to make $50K per year as a factory machinist. Factory gets closed and production was moved abroad. For the next 10 years he is out of luck to find a replacement job. Some economists say that cheap outsourcing reduces costs of goods sold in stores. Now a man lost 500K earnings over 10 year’s period. His purchasing power went down dramatically, he pay no taxes to gov., yet apply for federal support. How much he saved on cheaper Chines goods over that time? How much local economy lost?