So you're saying that the standard of living was worse or no better in 1900 than it was in 1800? People talk about the "Robber Barrons" but this is really a pe

So you're saying that the standard of living was worse or no better in 1900 than it was in 1800? People talk about the "Robber Barrons" but this is really a pejorative. Standard oil, for instance was able to lower the cost of gasoline dramatically, I believe it was more than an order of magnitude. This paved the way to the car being a viable product for the middle class and eventually nearly everyone.