Yeah, but you're mixing the point, yes, socially we've made great strides toward total equality. Whether we've achieved it or not is a totally different issue. Money is the core issue here because we're a capitalistic society. And money-wise you have to be mentally blind to argue that we're better off than in the 60s. Nowadays, without money you can't get into a decent school, which reduces the posibility of getting a decent job. Without money you will not have adequate representation in the courts should you decide to hit your boss (or worse yet, pork his wife). Et cetera.
Let me put it to you in simple terms. Back in the early 90s I wanted to do the Camino de Santiago, which is a well known pilgrimage route in Europe that runs from various European countries into a small town in the northwest of Spain called Santiago de Compostela. I wanted to take 2 weeks off because I wanted to start the route from Bordeaux (France). To make a long story short, when I booked the trip at the time, 1992 to be exact, the total cost was $ 757.00. I remember this vividly. In the end, I wasn unable to go because of work-related issues, but I was hell bent on going this year with my wife... To put it in simple terms: $ 7,300.00 for 2 fucking weeks!
And this is not because of the euro being overvalued, it is because the dollar is as good as toilet paper outside the US.
Capisci amici?
Not mixing the point at all. I mentioned educational opportunities and "no one" started talking about the quality of (secondary) education. Just clarifying that point with him.
I agree that money is a large part of the issue, but we're not going to start this "you're blind" if you don't agree with me line are we?
There are numerous factors you can look at today that are better than the 1960s. Off the top of my head:
- As I mentioned, more educational opportunities. Anyone can go to a post-secondary college, university, or trade school. State universities have relatively inexpensive tuition. Junior/community colleges are dirt cheap. There are a ton of scholarships available. The federal and state government offers a lot of money in grants. The military can provide pretty much a free education for anyone. Take the GI Bill and the Army College Fund. Not sure what the precise dollar amounts are, but it's a lot of money. There are federally guaranteed student loans available. Some states offer free tuition to students who achieve certain criteria. These opportunities are much greater today than 40 or 50 years ago.
- You mentioned the house your father bought. What kind of house was it? I grew up in a working class neighborhood where everyone (including us) owned their own home. No apartment buildings. No renters. But I look at the
first houses that each of my siblings and I purchased and they are head and shoulders better than the house I grew up in. We make more money than our parents did.
I think of a number of instances like this, but here is just one: a family at my church consists of a retired sergeant major, his wife, and two sons. When they first moved here about ten years ago, the father was still active duty, and the wife was a full-time mom. Neither the father nor the mom are college graduates. They bought a decent house in a nice neighborhood. Today, their oldest son is in medical school. The Air Force is paying his tuition. The youngest son is in college and just joined the military. I would be willing to wager that both sons' first houses will be better than the house their parents bought (on one income) here in Hawaii. Their quality of life will be better too. I know this is anecdotal, but I could give you about 50 stories like this.
- We live longer today than 40 or 50 years ago. We have an obesity epidemic, but we still enjoy better lives health wise than our parents and grandparents.
- The products and services are better. The cars, electronics, etc. are better quality today.
- Income is way up. You mentioned the cost of a trip in 1992 versus today. How does your income today compare to 1992?
I make just a tad bit more today than 16 years ago. . . .
- Then there is the discrimination issue. Brown v. Board was just in the 1950s and the Civil Rights Act was in the 1960s. The quality of education and access to public accommodations for minorities today is night and day.
- Women were largely shut out of the professional ranks in the 50s and 60s. Not nearly so today.
- It is harder in more expensive cities (like Honolulu) for a family to survive on a single income, but it happens all time. I know plenty of neighbors, co-workers, church members, and friends who do it. I think a substantial number of military wives are full-time moms.
I could go on, but I have to go stink up the softball field.
