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We in the USA live in the most gilded time in history, partially thanks to free markets and all the reasons the author bemoans. All income levels experience a l

We in the USA live in the most gilded time in history, partially thanks to free markets and all the reasons the author bemoans. All income levels experience a level of prosperity without equal. Our poor are obese, unemployment is low, and the access to career altering knowledge and skills has never been better. A dip in the economy is overdue yet here we are, still experiencing a historic period of growth and economic strength. But a presidential election is coming and the side not in power must convince everyone they are miserable. And since the economy historically ebbs and flows, “experts” will line up to write articles about the upcoming sunset so they can preen about when it inevitably does. All the while our government is 22 trillion in debt and nobody cares. The left claims it’s because we don’t tax enough and then proposes programs that would explode the debt. And the right claims we spend too much yet, on their watch, deficits have never been larger despite record receipts.

adreamingsoul 7y ago
So what’s your point?
- trentnix 7y ago
  Forget it, Donny, you're out of your element!
  - adreamingsoul 7y ago
    Not sure who Donny is, but regardless my question still remains. So how about this, what was your intention with sharing with us?
Ozzie_osman 7y ago
Poor being obese is not a sign of prosperity. There are many countries that are not prosperous at all with obesity problems. Obesity can be due to genetics, lack of access to healthy food or time for recreation, etc. High unemployment doesn't mean much if real wages are dropping for most people and necessities like housing or Healthcare are becoming less affordable even for those employed. I agree that there are people out there incentives to make things seem worse than they are, but I so think things are pretty bad.
- trentnix 7y ago
  Once upon a time being poor absolutely meant being hungry. No more. That is an utterly remarkable change and is unprecedented in all of human history. And so many wizards of smart assured the people of their time that population growth was going to lead to famine. They were dead-ass wrong.
  - Ozzie_osman 7y ago
    Yes, you are absolutely right. Thank God we don't have famines, but that's a really low bar to strive for as humanity. People only being able to afford food and a lifestyle that lead to obesity and a whole host of other health problems is still pretty bad, imo.
    - trentnix 7y ago
      Nonsense. It's a really big deal. It's probably the greatest accomplishment in all of human history. But to concede a point, there's no finish line in the race to improve human health and experience.
      - votepaunchy 7y ago
        Perhaps second or third to the vast reductions in maternal/infant death and from communicable diseases. Likewise, still work to be done.
      - Ozzie_osman 7y ago
        I do agree it's a huge deal. I think my bigger source of disagreement was pointing to things like obesity as a sign of prosperity. I guess everything is relative. Obesity is relatively better than famine. But overall, the article is arguing that many things are getting worse recently, which I think is true. Despite improvements in science, technology, productivity, and economic growth, groups of people are facing lower affordability of basic needs. Whether or not economists are to blame is another matter.
  - krilly 7y ago
Zardoz84 7y ago
Reading you, makes evident that you not are in lower class. Needing loans, and keep on debt for a very long time, to study on a university, isn't "easy access to career altering knowledge". Add an injust healthcare system, that can bankrupt anyone in the lower class.
- trentnix 7y ago
  Evident huh? Your HN must have features mine doesn't. "Add an injust healthcare system, that can bankrupt anyone in the lower class." Nice word salad - full of garnish and color that ultimately provides little nutrition.

adreamingsoul 7y ago

So what’s your point?

trentnix 7y ago
Forget it, Donny, you're out of your element!
- adreamingsoul 7y ago
  Not sure who Donny is, but regardless my question still remains. So how about this, what was your intention with sharing with us?

Ozzie_osman 7y ago

Poor being obese is not a sign of prosperity. There are many countries that are not prosperous at all with obesity problems. Obesity can be due to genetics, lack of access to healthy food or time for recreation, etc. High unemployment doesn't mean much if real wages are dropping for most people and necessities like housing or Healthcare are becoming less affordable even for those employed. I agree that there are people out there incentives to make things seem worse than they are, but I so think things are pretty bad.

trentnix 7y ago
Once upon a time being poor absolutely meant being hungry. No more. That is an utterly remarkable change and is unprecedented in all of human history. And so many wizards of smart assured the people of their time that population growth was going to lead to famine. They were dead-ass wrong.
- Ozzie_osman 7y ago
  Yes, you are absolutely right. Thank God we don't have famines, but that's a really low bar to strive for as humanity. People only being able to afford food and a lifestyle that lead to obesity and a whole host of other health problems is still pretty bad, imo.
  - trentnix 7y ago
    Nonsense. It's a really big deal. It's probably the greatest accomplishment in all of human history. But to concede a point, there's no finish line in the race to improve human health and experience.
    - votepaunchy 7y ago
      Perhaps second or third to the vast reductions in maternal/infant death and from communicable diseases. Likewise, still work to be done.
    - Ozzie_osman 7y ago
      I do agree it's a huge deal. I think my bigger source of disagreement was pointing to things like obesity as a sign of prosperity. I guess everything is relative. Obesity is relatively better than famine. But overall, the article is arguing that many things are getting worse recently, which I think is true. Despite improvements in science, technology, productivity, and economic growth, groups of people are facing lower affordability of basic needs. Whether or not economists are to blame is another matter.
- krilly 7y ago

Zardoz84 7y ago

Reading you, makes evident that you not are in lower class. Needing loans, and keep on debt for a very long time, to study on a university, isn't "easy access to career altering knowledge". Add an injust healthcare system, that can bankrupt anyone in the lower class.

trentnix 7y ago
Evident huh? Your HN must have features mine doesn't. "Add an injust healthcare system, that can bankrupt anyone in the lower class." Nice word salad - full of garnish and color that ultimately provides little nutrition.