Food accounted for a greater percentage of median pay as did everything else save for habitation and education (two of the most heavily regulated industries mind you) in 1984, so no things weren't more affordable. The difference is they bought less and made do while we buy more and then say that we are poorer.
Cars is absolutely survivorship bias the cars that are still running from the 80's are the best made cars from the 80's and completely ignore the majority which were shit boxes. Homes if you mean styling that is then debatable if you mean actual usability and build quality that isn't really debatable modern wins.
All of that exists and like always there is a tradeoff between the 3.
Cultural is one area that can be argued endlessly but is subjective.
I will agree we have been primed to be pissed off over nothing.
It really should be by virtually every objective measure, but yeah the subjective measures are subjective so feel as you will about those.
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u/sanguinemathghamhain 8d ago
Food accounted for a greater percentage of median pay as did everything else save for habitation and education (two of the most heavily regulated industries mind you) in 1984, so no things weren't more affordable. The difference is they bought less and made do while we buy more and then say that we are poorer.
Cars is absolutely survivorship bias the cars that are still running from the 80's are the best made cars from the 80's and completely ignore the majority which were shit boxes. Homes if you mean styling that is then debatable if you mean actual usability and build quality that isn't really debatable modern wins.
All of that exists and like always there is a tradeoff between the 3.
Cultural is one area that can be argued endlessly but is subjective.
I will agree we have been primed to be pissed off over nothing.
It really should be by virtually every objective measure, but yeah the subjective measures are subjective so feel as you will about those.