Of the "middle class" can, of course, to break into the rich, but it is much more likely to fall into poor. Constant companion of life of the average American - a lack of confidence in the future.
This conclusion comes as Americans themselves, and meticulously studying their social scientists, as well as outsiders.
Write about it, in particular, members of the conservative British weekly "The Economist" Edmund Fawcett and Tony Thomas. In the book, "America, the Americans" they come to the conclusion that American society characterized by "deep inequalities". The authors write:

"The difference in the income of the rich, the poor and many middle-class is the same as it has been around in the late 40-ies"
The contradiction between the abstract principle of "equal opportunity" and the actual class, race and social inequality according to the study by Professor State University of New York Mel-wine Dubofski and university professor Markitskogo Atana Theoharis "imperial democracy".
Americans, they said, they live in a society where "one can only acquire by others"
These evidence-based conclusions did not seem to Americans take for granted. Too strong their faith is "equal opportunity."
Even identified themselves as "middle class," they are willing to share this "class" on the "lower middle class" and "middle middle class," "upper middle class", and finally "higher upper middle class."
They live in the hope to move to a higher step in his notorious "middle class."
Robert Lekahman, an economics professor at the University of New York, shows that for a specialist who knows the statistics of income, "there is no labor and evil clearly demonstrate how risky financially is the lives of most Americans ... Considerably more than half the daily lived by to make ends meet, go into debt, and lives in fear of catastrophes almost duty: serious illness, long-term unemployment, urban redevelopment, and disability as a result of work-related injury. "
And here is how the magazine "Eskuayer" state of mind of today's American youth is relatively safe environment of so-called "upper middle class":

"Their career choice is determined primarily by how much it will bring dollars. They almost animal passion for money, but not because they can buy pleasure, then, to get a sense of security.