How relevant is the concept of ‘class’ to research in politics or political economy today?

Question

How relevant is the concept of ‘class’ to research in politics or political economy today?

Answer 1

Vital.  Democrats and liberals use it to divide and conquer.  They pit one economic class against others, usually the rich.  They use this warfare to justify their income redistribution schemes.  

In a free market economy, there will always be haves and have nots.  The top 2% will have a large part of the wealth because that is how free enterprise works.  Your outcome is in direct proportion to your value added to the society.  All these government programs actually do is destroy the middle class, to create in the end a ruling elite and the rest of the schleps.  

When someone depends on the government to run their retirement and tax them at 50% of income, the middle class have no hope in taking care of themselves.  Those who will not take their own responsibility will have an unending demand for the government services, which causes more and more need for government to take out tax money.