Earn Your Leisure Is the Middle Class Over- The Harsh Truth About Money, Work & Power in 2026
Feb 13, 2026
They trace middle-class decline from 2008 onward and argue the pandemic and money printing accelerated it. Housing losses and 401(k) liquidations turned many into long-term renters. Inflation and financialization eroded purchasing power while AI, GPUs, and robotics threaten office jobs. Tech consolidation, creator economy shifts, and debates over skilled vs manual work round out the conversation.
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Middle Class Shrinking Over Decades
- Rashad Bilal says the middle class has been shrinking for decades and crises accelerated the decline.
- He highlights 2008 and the pandemic as turning points that created permanent renters and liquidated retirement savings.
Inflation And Liquidations Wore Down Wealth
- Inflation and forced liquidations devastated household wealth and retirement balances, Rashad argues.
- He frames financial crises plus inflation as the killer that erodes middle-class savings and positions.
Wall Street Gains Are Disconnected From Labor
- Troy Millings and Rashad contrast Wall Street wealth generation with middle-class labor, calling financial gains disconnected from physical contribution.
- They note the middle class typically still 'works for money' while finance and trading capture outsized gains.