I think the consensus is that average American buying power peaked somewhere between 1970 and 1980, and it has been declining ever since. That's plenty of time

I think the consensus is that average American buying power peaked somewhere between 1970 and 1980, and it has been declining ever since. That's plenty of time for an entire generation to be raised with an awareness that any entrepreneurial enterprise they may attempt can be crushed and consumed in short order by a competitor with the backing of the moneyed elites. If you try to manufacture a quality product in the US, and bootstrap your business, the instant you prove there is a market for it, someone will gather up some financing, knock off your product in China, and run you out of your own business. If you build a fun game app, Zynga or King or some other chop-shop with their model will instantly clone it and kill you with their marketing. If you open so much as a lemonade stand, the city will come round asking about inspections and permits.