3 ms·

To be fair, it used to work like that in America. Graduate high school, get a decent paying union job in your hometown with an okay house to raise a family. Dri

To be fair, it used to work like that in America. Graduate high school, get a decent paying union job in your hometown with an okay house to raise a family. Drink beer and watch sports on the weekends with neighborhood buddies. Work 30-40 years and retire.

foobiekr 6y ago
Even on the relatively short timeline of the history of the US, the period you’re referring to was quite short.
- sokoloff 6y ago
  Which was launched and substantially overlapped with a period where the US was the largest export manufacturing base left standing and where massive rebuilding was needed on more than one continent. I hope to not experience a repeat of those initial conditions.
- francisofascii 6y ago
  With the huge increases in productivity since the 1950's, people should be working less hours than in 1950. I don't have a good reason why this should be an anomaly in history.
  - geodel 6y ago
    Sure, if one is willing to stay at 50's living standard. Trouble is what used to be luxury then is now basic necessity and "everyone" must have it.
    - francisofascii 6y ago
      Exactly. We come back to our original problem. Our society turned "luxuries" like college, into basic necessities that one must do or have. Two cars, big homes, two parents able to work, phones, etc. are all great, but they cease to be luxuries when they become required.
mpfundstein 6y ago
i'd also argue that this definition of a good life only applies to certain subset of people. i would die on the inside
- francisofascii 6y ago
  Sure, but I would argue you are in the minority, and it is a large subset of people who can work hard and be dependable, but don't have the talent to be a highly skilled knowledge worker, or can't pivot to different skill sets, which is required to have dependable employment these days.
enkid 6y ago
It may have worked like that for a portion of the population for a short period of time, but getting a union job was not a guarantee, and what your describing was not possible or very difficult for the majority of the population like women, non-white people, and recent immigrants.
refurb 6y ago
That’s a cherry picked example. Good union jobs were more plentiful back then, but by no means readily available to everyone. Just like today, plenty of people struggled to make ends meet.
chasd00 6y ago
to the current generation that is not a good life, that is a terrible life. If you're life isn't follow-worthy then you're failing.

foobiekr 6y ago

Even on the relatively short timeline of the history of the US, the period you’re referring to was quite short.

sokoloff 6y ago
Which was launched and substantially overlapped with a period where the US was the largest export manufacturing base left standing and where massive rebuilding was needed on more than one continent. I hope to not experience a repeat of those initial conditions.
francisofascii 6y ago
With the huge increases in productivity since the 1950's, people should be working less hours than in 1950. I don't have a good reason why this should be an anomaly in history.
- geodel 6y ago
  Sure, if one is willing to stay at 50's living standard. Trouble is what used to be luxury then is now basic necessity and "everyone" must have it.
  - francisofascii 6y ago
    Exactly. We come back to our original problem. Our society turned "luxuries" like college, into basic necessities that one must do or have. Two cars, big homes, two parents able to work, phones, etc. are all great, but they cease to be luxuries when they become required.

mpfundstein 6y ago

i'd also argue that this definition of a good life only applies to certain subset of people. i would die on the inside

francisofascii 6y ago
Sure, but I would argue you are in the minority, and it is a large subset of people who can work hard and be dependable, but don't have the talent to be a highly skilled knowledge worker, or can't pivot to different skill sets, which is required to have dependable employment these days.

enkid 6y ago

It may have worked like that for a portion of the population for a short period of time, but getting a union job was not a guarantee, and what your describing was not possible or very difficult for the majority of the population like women, non-white people, and recent immigrants.

refurb 6y ago

That’s a cherry picked example. Good union jobs were more plentiful back then, but by no means readily available to everyone. Just like today, plenty of people struggled to make ends meet.

chasd00 6y ago

to the current generation that is not a good life, that is a terrible life. If you're life isn't follow-worthy then you're failing.