Is your assumption that those falling behind are public sector workers? I don’t think so with the lavish benefits and pensions they receive. States and municipalities overhired public employees during the real estate bubble when property tax revenue increased. Now they are being forced to get their budgets in line.

If states and localities want to prevent these layoffs, they have taxing authority to do so. It is not the job of the federal government to pay for state and local government employees. When the money runs out, then what?

As for infrastructure investments, Obama borrowed $800 billion for a stimulus package in 2009 that supposedly was going to pay for “shovel ready” projects. Plus we already pay a gasoline tax into the highway fund. When is the money ever enough?

Finally, the fact that the statistics exclude cash assistance is a major flaw. When EITC, food stamps, and other aid is included it would tell a different story. They should include a third bar, share of federal income tax burden which would be flat for the bottom 50%.

That said, it remains an open question whether policy to grow middle class jobs will increase debt over the long term. Let’s get an answer to that question, and then maybe some decisions can be made about what to do about the long-term trend of declining middle class.