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The Brian Lehrer Show

The Middle Class Conundrum

Central Park

This conversation is part of a larger look at findings from a Public Agenda/WNYC poll of residents in the NY Metro area. Head here for more insight into public opinions on government, policing, inequality, and what matters most.

Many people in the New York City area who consider themselves part of the middle class are feeling stuck in the face of rising costs, stagnating wages, and rising inequality.

That’s according to a new poll conducted by Public Agenda and WNYC. Throughout the week, we’ll be rolling out different themes, questions, and stories emerging from these poll results in an effort to contextualize the issues informing voters’ decisions.

Today’s focus: the middle class pursuit of happiness. Here are a few findings that stood out to us:

(WNYC/WNYC)

 

Will Friedman, the president of Public Agenda, and Carolin Hagelskamp, vice president and director of research for Public Agenda, joins to discuss these findings and what they say about our complex attitudes toward government and the wealthy.