Inflation-adjusted hourly wages in the US were higher 35 years ago

[murdoch]

I don't see this mentioned much on corporate TV. We would have been better off in our father's time. You can see the government data yourself:

Go to -

http://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cesbtab4.htm

Check "Constant (1982) dollars" then click "Retrieve data".
Then Change output to 1971, check "include graphs" and press Go.

They don't really talk about this much on TV. When I bring this up to conservatives, they sometimes say something like, even adjusted for inflation, you can now buy an 18" TV for the price of a 16" TV a few years ago, so everyone is better off. This may be the case, but rent and real estate have shot far ahead of inflation, so people can't even afford to buy TVs as often.

[madokie]

1. I guarantee that to be a fact. I don't know how the kids today even get by

[msongs]

2. people buy stuff they dont need, using credit cards, and whine when they

actually have to pay the bill later.

from what I see people are still buying lots of tvs...tvs that are way beyond what is necessary to enjoy a show.

Msongs
www.msongs.com
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[Rosemary2205]

3. 40 yrs of wages - a picture worth 1000 words

is my 60-80 something parents and inlaws thought TV was a luxury. Had a party line telephone, thought a 1000 sq foot house for 8 people was an absolute castle and eating out was reserved for really BIG occasions. Inlaws didn't even own a car until dadinlaw was in his late 40's.

Granted the world is a different place but seriously, do we need 300 TV channels on a TV in every room? Ipods, cellphones, his and hers new cars, designer clothes, eat out 4 times a week, home theatre, 60 inch plasmas and a 3000 sq foot house for 4 people?


BTW 40 yrs of average wages are stegnant while the cost of living is going way up. Keeping ourselves in plasmas naturally requires running up the Visa.



Edit to add clarity and graph

[Sinti]

4. Thanks for this link.

When I try to explain to folks that one person's income (a car mechanic or mail man's income) when I was a kid was enough to take care of a family, 2 cars (not necessarily brand new), decent home, three squares a day and some savings, they seem to think I'm crazy. They say, we expect too much now, we should be prepared to take less... the people in India... eyes glaze over.

Funny how it's lower during the early '90s. It appeared to me that the bottom tier were picking up in that period. Maybe it's a factor of the averaging.