Cash savings actually increase in value during crashes. Crashes provide the middle class with opportunities to purchase assets that they otherwise would not be able to afford.
I get that, but you have to have cash savings before you can purchase assets. MOST middle class individuals can't afford to keep their savings in cash. MAYBE they keep 6 months of salary in cash in the event of a lose of work, but every other saved dollar is put to work.
You'd have to destroy their life savings to give them a decent opportunity to buy assets on the cheap.