The automobile industry, I am sure, said, “Thanks Mr. President. We are better off,” in spite of Gov. John Kasich trying to take credit for Ohio being back in the mix and doing well. Ohio is a swing state and will be a very important part of this election in November, be it good or bad.

Are you better off than four years ago?

After watching the Cleveland Browns lose their opener to the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, I realized that with a new quarterback and running back we are better than we were last year. Then, it made me think of Mitt Romney’s running mate Paul Ryan question are we better off then we were four years ago?

I don’t know about you, Mr. Ryan, but the mere fact I still have a job is a testimony that I am better off than I was four years ago – with my sneaky smile. It is very clear what the problem is now… it’s not if we are better off, but the color of the president’s skin.

While riding to work this week, I heard Roland Martin talking to an author by the name of Joan Walsh. Walsh, a White woman, wrote a book entitled “What’s The Matter with White People,” where she clearly talks about the problems in today’s era.

The title was enough to catch my attention and realize what they are doing to President Obama. It was said that this would provoke much discussion during the fall campaign, with its personal and historical approach to one of the most toxic issues in American politics: how and why the White working class became the Republican base, in defiance of its own economic interests, and whether the Democrats can ever win it back.

Growing up in the Lee Harvard area, I believed we were considered middle class, not rich but doing okay. In those days, people who lived on Hough, East 55th, and any of housing projects were considered low income earning people.

Do you ever take time to reflect on how things revolve and change over the years? Hough is now a great area to be part of and, all alongChester Avenue; nice size homes for middle class people have been built.

President Obama’s main concern is for the middle class and I applaud him for it. Why should any millionaire or billionaire get off without paying as much in taxes as the person struggling to make ends meet each pay?

Now, it’s a shame that we can’t find common ground and define middle class. But, a recent report from the Pew Research Center defines the middle class in the United States as any adult in a household whose income sits between 66 percent and 200 percent of the national median (adjusted for the size of the household).

Some people are born into money and never had to worry about anything in their life. When I went to school, the rich kids were always the ones dressed like bums. By today’s standards, it’s almost certain that if you dress like a bum you are struggling.

More and more people are living under bridges and in their cars than ever before.

Now, don’t get me wrong, not everyone who goes down has to stay down. Tyler Perry lived in his car and look at the money he is clocking.

The average household who makes anywhere from $20,000 to 50,000 a year is what everyone calls middle class, anyone who makes $100,000.00 you are consider upper middle class, so where do you fall?

People are fooled everyday in what they consider themselves as being. I laugh so hard at me when I was a child, you could not tell me I wasn’t a rich man. We lived in a house on a nice street and it was a man who stayed across the street named Gene. He looked just like Isaac Hayes and would call me by my full name, Master James W. Wade III.

Doesn’t that sound rich (Laughing)?

I would be playing outside and my mother would make me come in and take baths all the time. I thought I was living large until I woke up and realized I was broke. (Laughing harder)

Growing up middle class had me wanting a mini bike and one those Schwinn bikes with the tall 5-speed stick, banana seat, and high rise handle bars, because that’s what we rode back then.

My street was full of great people with great toys. I remember my neighbor John Emery who had, what we felt, was the fastest car back in the day. He had a GTO, a “goat,” as we called it. That car was known as a top flight automobile with speed.

So, fast forward from my childhood to 2008. The question was asked if we are any better off then we were four years ago? The Republicans are pushing that the answer is no and is on the road to convince the public that is true.

So what will Romney do for us? Is he planning on splitting his millions with us? I’m wondering how would he make us any better than what we are now? The rich keep getting richer and the less fortune keep getting pushed down.

Following back to back weeks of conventions, we’ve seen the Republicans attack the president every chance they got while the Democrats brought on powerhouse speakers who shatter the faces of naysayers on the other side.

The automobile industry, I am sure, said, “Thanks Mr. President. We are better off,” in spite of Gov. John Kasich trying to take credit forOhiobeing back in the mix and doing well.Ohiois a swing state and will be a very important part of this election in November, be it good or bad.

So, I feel being middle class is an outstanding class to occupy. I am not rich and it makes me feel good to know someone in the White House is thinking of me and my funds. Keep fighting for us President Obama. Keep hope alive.

Follow me on twitter @JimmyWadeIII

 Readers can write to James W. Wade III at The Call & Post, 11800 Shaker Blvd. Cleveland, Ohio 44120 or email jwade@call-post.com. Comments and questions are welcome but, because of the volume of mail, personal responses are not always possible. Please note that comments or questions may be used in a future column.