Wednesday, October 18, 2006
The average American: 1967 and today
Forbes.com/MSNBC.com had this article comparing the incomes our grandparents and parents earned to what, on average, we earn today (except for Ryan). It seems the author cannot figure out why we beleive "the Good Ol' Days" are better than today. I wanted to hear from yall two things: if you think we are better off today and the reasons why or why not. I'll start: we are NOT better off today. Reason: the rap/hip-hop culture.
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2 comments:
We are much better off today. People are living the longest they've ever lived, driving better cars, and benefiting from tons of other advances. All of this, of course, is thanks to capitalism.
Not only are real incomes much higher, but in real terms you can buy a lot more stuff with a dollar in 2006 than 30 years ago because the profit motive has allowed productivity to skyrocket. Check out this study, where an econ professor took a 1975 Sears catalogue and calculated, adjusting for inflation, how many hours of work it would take to buy certain items back then compared to today.
It's funny that it seems me and TC disagree a lot on here, when in fact we agree on just about 98% of everything else.
Now you may say that society has deterioated since mid-century, but that's not going to stop me from doing my own thing, wearing my boat shoes and listening to my beach music (which, by the way, was burned from the internet onto cheap, efficiently-produced laser compact disks for my listening pleasure in my fuel-efficient, reasonably priced Japanese car that will run for 10 more years - not even the richest man in the world in 1967 had these luxuries).
"There is no such thing as society. Only individuals." - Margaret Thatcher
I'm going to be a smiley politician here.
I agree with Pat. In terms of wealth, productivity, and health... the world is much better off. I'm glad I'm alive today instead of the 1900s, where people used pig fat as soap.
But TC has a point. The progress we've made brings along apathy for morality. Today, society is lacking people who have a clear idea about what is right and wrong. A teenager may say today "Hell, if I can listen 24/7 to whatever music I choose because of my convenient ipod, then a women should have an equal right to choose whether or not to have an abortion."
Those who can progress with societies' advances while still keeping their bearings on what is right and wrong are the real winners. Sadly in these days, the more wealthier a kid is raised, the more relative his moral compass becomes. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about becoming wealthy. I love money. And because I love money, my wealth and spending will enable others to have a better life. But, the parents still have a duty to kick their kid's ass to ensure he doesn't turn into a bleeding heart liberal who sees no absolute truths. Sissy parents are the reason why hip hop is seen as "Ok" by the average kid. (and its the reason why boys aren't playing as much football for BC.)
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