In this chapter, the authors begin with a look at survey data on Americans’ self-perceived social class, what they think it means to be rich, and how they view those who are. They then turn to general perceptions of inequality and opportunity in America, and, finally, they look at opinions about government’s role in addressing inequality. Most US pollsters do not ask questions about inequality regularly, and surveys suggest that few Americans see themselves as rich or poor: most describe themselves as middle class, and they have mixed feelings about the rich. Awareness of inequality is not new, nor is the belief that it is growing. The data are not clear about whether most people believe America is still an opportunity society. Polls show that, in the abstract, people want government to act, but they do not know precisely what they want government to do.
Middle Class Perceptions of Inequality Compared to Other Russians: Consensus or Disagreement?