The narrative that has been circulating on Facebook, where someone laments that the combined income of a household maid and her rickshaw-puller husband along with their young son who works as a helper to a human hauler driver exceeds that of a university graduate's family, has been drawing attention for a few years now. Many people are pointing out the flawed comparison between the earnings of three individuals undergoing tremendous hardship and a single individual working in a relatively comfortable environment. Moreover, the notion that a child is forced to work is a stark indicator of societal failure, making any envy towards their earnings inhumane.

The support for such narratives among a significant portion of the population, and their recurring nature, raises questions. It reflects a deeper crisis where the middle class, seemingly losing their sense of empathy and rationality, may actually be responding to a broader socio-economic frustration. This frustration stems from rampant corruption and looting by the state and ruling elite, making investment in the country increasingly difficult over the last 15 years. Small entrepreneurs are being pushed out due to the unchecked looting and corruption by political goons and an unaccountable administration.

The job market in the private sector is dire, and while the government dangles the carrot of civil service jobs, only a fraction of the educated population secures such employment. The stock market has been sabotaged by those in power, and large projects financed by loans in the name of development mostly end up enriching the corrupt. The national debt has exceeded 100 billion dollars for the first time, reflecting a dire economic situation.

Furthermore, the fragile education system fails to prepare the majority of the youth for high-quality jobs in this era of globalization, with many expatriates resorting to selling their labor in physically demanding jobs abroad.

There was a time when the middle class aspired for upward mobility through education, a dream that is now fading. The educated middle class is realizing the harsh reality that education no longer guarantees a better life, leading to a sense of despair. This despair might be causing some to erroneously perceive that the economically less fortunate are better off, resulting in misplaced resentment. However, both the middle and lower classes are victims of widespread exploitation, with the fruits of their labor being plundered by corrupt elements in power. This exploitation has set these two victimized groups against each other, marking a tragic period for the nation.