You’re too sensitive.
“Working people” simply means those that are fully dependent on the income from their job.
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LOL. Typical dismissive response to avoid ramifications of words. Words matter. “Working people” means all working people.
So just say low income people totally dependent on the income from their jobs, or low income people, with no savings, and no discretionary income for a couple of examples.
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How long could you go without a job?
You’re a “working stiff” just like Billy Joel declared his wife and himself to be.
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Your distinction is hollow because the author is making real points about the politics of the two groups, which are distinct. You gloss over them when you say that "everyone works."
Yes, everyone works, but they work differently, in different ways, for different motives, which is what drives the different politics that the parties are vying for.
The "middle class" are salaried workers, and the "working class" are the wage earners.
I already indicated above that salaried workers more personally identify with their employing companies, which the author confirmed.
Wage earners get paid by the hour, and often don't get paid when they take vacations. Consequently, they take less vacation. Salaried workers get several weeks of vacation each year as a part of their benefits packages.
Wage earners are often trade workers. They can find work almost anywhere. Salaried worker are often office workers who specialize in a profession. They can only work where the businesses are. They may be less mobile than wage earners.
Salaried workers do not get paid for overtime. The "workday" is more fluid for them. Wage earners often clock in and out, and hours are important to them. Especially time and a half and double-time hours.
These characteristics of the two working groups have different political appeals, which the author was trying to point out. Those differences are lost when one lumps them all together as "working people."
-PJ