On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 6:08:49 AM UTC-10, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 9:36:04 AM UTC-5, Sheldon wrote:
> > On Tue, 20 Nov 2018 19:11:22 -0800 (PST), GM
> > > wrote:
> >
> > >Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> > >
> > >> On 11/20/2018 8:55 PM, GM wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> > Yup, kids, we in America and in fact ALL over the world have LOTS to be thankful for...this is the BEST time in history to be alive...the kings of old would marvel at the standard of living that even a very modest income can now attain. To wit:
> > >> >
> > >> > http://reason.com/archives/2018/11/2...faster-cheaper
> > >> >
> > >> > Better, Faster, Cheaper
> > >> . Americans have more wealth than we could have ever imagined..."
> > >>
> > >> Absolutely. I think back at some of the appliances I bought many years
> > >> ago and it was quite a stretch back then, now just chump change.
> > >
> > >When we were growing up, one of the "wonder" things that was predicted for the future was "TV you can HANG on a WALL...!!!" Well, that came true, and now those TV's are indeed so cheap as to be disposable...I still remember the TV repairman, and those tube tester thingies at hardware stores...
> > >
> > >Even when I was in college in the 70's, only a few well - off kids in the dorm had a small portable B/W teevee, in today's dollars those were over $500.00, and purchasing power was much less...
> > >
> > >
> > >> I'd like to still have the $16/month heating bill though. That has gone
> > >> up slightly.
> > >
> > >
> > >True, fuel has gone up...but is that cost not balanced out somewhat by increased energy and other efficiencies all 'round...
> > >
> > >This kind of stuff reminds me of my grandfather, he was born in rural downstate Illinois (Buffalo Prairie IL, to be exact) in 1876. He was born into a world of poverty, disease, darkness, isolation, you traveled via a horse cart on a rutted trail, his life was tied to the rhythm of the seasons and the sun rising and setting; no electricity, germ theory of disease unknown, and cars, planes, radio, modern sanitation and thousands of other things were far in his future. He passed 90 years later, in 1966. He had a modern air - conditioned home, and he loved watching the Miss America Pageant, live from Atlantic City on his Motorola console color TV. His life was lengthened and enhanced by modern medicine, he traveled a bit (he and his brother bought a new 1954 Ford and drove out to Yellowstone Park...) - and he was one of the first State Farm Auto Insurance agents in the state, back in the 1920's...
> > >
> > >Yeah, I worked half a year doing odd jobs as a kid so as to afford a small Sears Silvertone reel - to - reel tape recorder; even though it only had 3 1/4 reels, it was something to strive for...in 1966 I think it was $39..95, a large sum back then...'bout $250.00 in present currency.
> > >
> > >Anyways, nostalgia...but I still think we live in the best of times. You are an engineer, Ed, you've been blessed to see this "March of Progress"....
> >
> > In the '40s kids could play in the streets unsupervised... a whole
> > summer's entertainment cost a 25¢ Spalding and a broomstick... no one
> > idled away their lives in front of a screen.
> > In the '50s doctors were more dedicated and they made house calls; $4.
> > In 1962 I bought a new Chevy Impala; $2,300 cash.
> > In 1973 I bought a new VW bug; $1,800 cash.
> > I can make a much longer list of things that were once much better,
> > food was far, FAR better... no restaurant today serves decent food,
> > that's why I no longer eat out... a whole large pizza cost 75¢ and
> > topped with a ton of cheese, REAL cheese.
>
> How much money did you make when things were so cheap? Enough to
> buy as many Chevy Impalas as you wanted?
>
> You always tout the low prices, but never mention the low wages.
>
> Cindy Hamilton

Back in the day, I could afford to pay for my college tuition with my paltry pay from my part time campus job. I lived at home with my parents though.

When I graduated, I moved into and apartment with my future wife. We'd go to the building right next door and go to the roof where the cute old Chinese guy had a cute house that looked like it was imported from China and forked over $200. It was a pretty sweet deal.