Ha. I should articulate better. The masses are the majority (the have nots), and I don't know why I wrote the masses.

I grew up in Southern California but live in Australia right now, and when I first arrived, I thought everyone was rich. Australia's living standards are so much better than the US because there is a stronger middle class. Although there are dominant parties that are very similar to the democrats and republicans, there are numerous parties, and they hold office. Sadly, the middle class seems to be dwindling here too, but it is the key to democracy, equality, etc.

The US is a big mess, and it doesn't look like it's getting any better any time soon.