It was a combination of factors. The Soviet Union had established itself as an alternative to capitalist predation, so the "welfare state" began to make sense as a concession from capitalists. Trade unionists and communist organizers on the ground risked revolution, so there was direct incentive to implement it.

Also, it came at the expense of marginalized peoples. Not only did many people not see the benefits domestically, but it was propped up by pilfering surplus value from the global south.

Meanwhile the middle class bots on reddit are endlessly crying about the UK raising the minimum wage. Yeah, how dare the poor get anything if it might slightly impact those on over £40k.

Genuinely heard complaints that we can't raise the minimum wage because it will make the cost of living worse.

No longer on minimum wage myself, but I say crank it as hard as fucking possible, to just below the point it actually causes a significant increase in unemployment. Currently under 5% so its clearly NOT too high yet. I have enough now, I want the guy stacking the shelves in Tesco to have enough too.

Price increases will continue until all moral is low.

And the "professional" class which believe it or not has a legal definition, but includes things like doctors and lawyers who might not necessarily own the business they're paid relatively well to work for.

Either way though, small business owners are getting forced out and the ones getting forced out fastest are the ones who understand what's happening.

That's the UK definition of middle class, which is still how they use the term.

In countries without nobility and/or stratified more by wealth based class than hereditary social class, "neither poor nor rich" has been the rough definition since before my boomer parents' parents were born roughly a century ago.

And when the poors return from the wars and can no longer mend their sores, we gave them the training to settle their scores

And we may need neither in the coming years.

Nice strawman. People are calling out "I'm 14 and this is edgy" crap like this post because they exhibit as much political education as the average maga. OP is 2 conspiracies away from blaming the Jews

Depends what you define it as. Willing to vote against the working class to benefit themselves starts from way lower.

A historical middle class and a capitalist middle class are not the same animal. They serve different purposes.