Actually, most could still live a post WW-II lifestyle with a single wage earner. The problem is that we now think we are en led to much more.
The average post WWII family.
- lived in a wood frame home less than 1000sf
- kids doubled/tripled up in rooms
- the house was not air-conditioned
- the only had one car that the family shared
- they cooked fresh food from scratch
- eating dinner out was for "special" occasions
- they might have one TV
- they had one phone that everyone shared
This was your middle class that payed the bulk of the taxes.
People that live like this now are considered "poor" and don't pay taxes.
We're spoiled, no doubt about it. That's a a big part of it.
But the fiscal trend of the last 30 years, starting with Reagan's borrow and spend conservatism, didn't help. Neither did the continual erosion of buying power through inflation, either. Nor does a decade long war in South Asia.
Relatively speaking, they are.
You mean income tax, right? All wage earners pay SS and sales tax.
Yeah, of course I was talking about income taxes. As far as SS, there are still a lot of people working off the books. At least with a sales tax they can't completely evade but that just helps on state/local stuff.
Sure you could cut out a lot of expenses and not have to work two jobs, but unless your single income is fairly significant you're still going to live in a crime-riddled area with terrible public schools. (That's the perception, anyway.)
I think parents in dual-income households are more concerned with raising their families in a good environment than they are about being able to afford cable.
What? This script here says they're all decadent parasites. Both of you can't be right.
What poor political choices we have in this country. I'm not quite sure how the right reached this point. Of course, the political left is not any better. Then again, if those who fancy themselves as defenders of the American tradition view Thomas Jefferson as an apostate, there's not much hope.
Further, why the need to shape the country entirely to a view in line with your tastes? The original charter remains an ingenious governing do ent, whose primary defect was that it did not apply to all. That was the result of millenia of human intellectual activity which led to the determination that individuals are sovereign, with inalienable natural rights.
The narrow conceptions of liberty offered by the political left and right in this country make a mockery of its design and also, the intelligence and character of each individual in this country. The presumption is that all are members of a malleable mob, incapable of living their lives on their own. Not to mention the desire to reshape each individual to fit some synthetically desired mold is now somehow paramount and in fidelity to the original design for American governance.
It's not a wonder why half of eligible voters decline to vote in most federal elections. What is truly wondrous is why anyone bothers.
What about anal sex with a girl? Will that be illegal?
"What poor political choices we have in this country"
We got the politicians we deserve.
"narrow conceptions of liberty"
ah, that old "my missing freedoms and liberties" canard. Never any specifics. And never any responsibilities to accompany the freedoms.
Those who demand cir scribed lists of liberties are naturally antagonistic to individual freedom, be it the Texas GOP or those exhibiting advanced psychoses, such as croutons.
I think it's due more to apathy.
I should hope that in 50 years, the average family would expect slightly better.
Might as well say that the families of the 50's should have been living without cars (since they didn't have them in 1900).
But real earnings seemingly haven't caught up to what is considered "normal" in society. Having two cars is essential in many cases, in order to have two jobs in the house. Cell phones are rapidly becoming essential as well, as is some sort of internet connection.
Ha! Too true.
Don't you just "love" all these everyone is equal types, well everyone but"I don't get this about some lesbians couples."
Jack puzzling over lesbians.
straight Republicans. Maybe because they don't suck and swallow.
The two party system is a joke in America.
The joke's on us.
tbh you're either ignorant or flat out trolling if you think people's desires and not lower wages have led to husbands and wives having to both work instead of men being able to work non college degree jobs and being able to support a family of four. That plus the death of unions have made it a necessity for a load of college or two working parents.
I've been waiting for a third party for years and then the ing tea party shows up. The short bus wing of the Republican party.
I'll agree with you to a point on this. If we expect our real wages to increase over the course of time, to the point that we can expect a higher standard of living in the future, then there is a responsibility on our part as well. I state this because I don't think that it is an out of this world requirement to expect that that same non college degreed person 50 years ago should be replaced by a college degreed person (even an advanced degree) today (in your statement). Shoe cobblers don't get paid the same amount today that they did 200 years ago, because of advances in knowledge and processes (for example).
I do, however, agree that even in the scenario that I put forth it would be difficult to raise a family of four today on the salary of one degreed person and that real wages have NOT risen making the disparity even greater.
i think you mean muslim marxist communist socialist democratic party.
if the libertarians would just ease off their un-libertarian ways on social issues and border control they would thrive in this culture that seems to push a fear on big government.
if the greens would get voters to grow some balls and not be so afraid of caving into the dems then they would get the real left.
til there is some serious lobby reform, this won't happen, and if you think that either of the ruling parties would let that happen, you're smokin' some good .
Smoke that good , regardless.
For good and for ill one's life is not (necessarily) lived within these boundaries. Still less one's manner of thinking.
One's own discretion may be the salvation from the of insult the world as it actually exists presents to legacy, reason, taste and yes, intelligence -- or it might turn out to be the prison of it's own obscurity, or get zapped out on the patio like a bug. You never know.
Bon chance, MB.
Last edited by Winehole23; 06-27-2010 at 05:19 AM. Reason: removing more commas
Prepossessed with a child's pure scorn.
Last edited by Winehole23; 06-27-2010 at 05:34 AM.
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