You have got talent, nice story. One thing you might or might not know but just in case you didn’t. People who did not go to college probably never in their whole life, leave the country and probably work as much overtime as they are allowed. I knew people who would beg or fight so they could work holidays and weekends. Gig work, 30 years ago, hand sewing the stitches on the toes of loafers and moccasins.

Paycheck purchasing power, the graph you included showed that over the period of 40 years the purchasing power of the average hourly wage increased 10%. 10% in real terms, how is that not a good thing. Why should it even have gone up at all considering all the foreign competition?

Lifestyle and standard of living. When I graduated, my student debt was small, about 6 times my monthly rent. I had way fewer bills than people do now. Rent, food, clothes, gas (I car pooled to save), electricity. My car was a paid off junker so maybe some car maintenance and liability insurance. I got free haircuts, did not go to the dentist or see a doctor, no phone, not no cell phone, no phone, used pay phone if I wanted to talk to someone. No cable or internet.

Expectations of what is required and expected have grown and yes, purchasing power has not kept up with expectations. Yes, expectation is now go to college, have a computer, have cell phone, travel the world, but to do that most have to take on debt that prevents having a family and a house. You can get an hourly wage job skill and marry someone the same and have a house and family before you are 25 but one of you will probably need to work nights and weekends if you want to have spending money, oh, the house will probably be modest. I know this is true today as it was 30 years ago because 30 years ago I worked with these hourly workers and today I work for a company who hires them, welders and mechanics.

TEK