The Washington Post has an article about the struggling middle class. They focus on a family in the DC area that makes about 90K with a combined income. It relates honest-to-God tough issues that the family faces — a broken air conditioner, a broken dishwasher, concerns about paying the food bills. But then the article gets all muddy with some really questionable expenses — a $300 cell phone bill, music lessons for the kids, 3 flat screen TVs, a lap top for each kid. The wife orders the most expensive school photo package, rather than the bargain option. Sympathy for this family erodes.