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>a majority of them decided not to bite the hand that was feeding them. How did we as a nation go from the land of the free, a chicken in every pot and a car i

>a majority of them decided not to bite the hand that was feeding them. How did we as a nation go from the land of the free, a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage, to "beg for scraps or you will starve."

paxys 6y ago
> land of the free, a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage All of this has always been propaganda, nothing more. The average unskilled worker has never had a good life in America.
- sokoloff 6y ago
  Has the average unskilled worker "had a good life" at any time or place in the Earth's history?
- astrange 6y ago
  It was pretty good in the postwar era if they were white, since the average worker came back from the war on the GI Bill and got free education and subsidized suburb buildouts.
colinmhayes 6y ago
Black people might object to the US once being "land of the free." In fact, almost every unskilled worker might.
yeetman21 6y ago
who the fuck is begging for scraps. with 15$ an hour they are living like kings in their hometown, above the median income
- lotsofpulp 6y ago
  No one is living like kings on $15 per hour anywhere in the US. Unless your definition of kings includes lack of retirement security, income security, health security, and working back breaking shift work at odd hours. They will especially be vulnerable in their 50 to 65 years, when they will become unemployable for manual labor work. They'll be able to put a roof over their head, and not worry about their kids' next meal or maybe even their kid breaking their arm. But they're not going to advance to the next rung of the socioeconomic ladder.
  - refurb 6y ago
    Two parents working at Amazon almost hit median household income in the US. Houses in that part of AL cost <$100k, so ownership is within reach. Retirement is provided by social security (pays better than Canada’s public pension does). And they get great health insurance from Amazon. You’re painting way too bleak of a picture based on zero data.
    - gremlinsinc 6y ago
      My best friend growing up in the 80's - his dad made around $20/hour, working at a GM factory in the union. Mom was a stay-at-home mom. House was paid for, everything they bought they paid cash, pension, the works. This was basically the norm from 40s to late 80s after reganomics started widdling away workers' rights. This is the way it should be - 1 parent at home, 1 bringing home $$. Else, the government should cover child care, or pay stay-at-home parents a salary for providing their own child care.
  - yeetman21 6y ago
    Not everywhere in the US is SF or NYC. 15$ an hour is a very good wage (especially for non skilled work) in a majority of the US
- lolinder 6y ago
  Above the median income in a small town doesn't mean you've got a great absolute standard of living, it just means you're better off than others in your town. If a company can sell its products two towns over for 2x the price Bessemer can afford, it's not going to slash prices in Bessemer just because everyone there is poor.
abledon 6y ago
dude it was only free before the colonialists came over and killed all the indians :laugh: :cry:

paxys 6y ago

> land of the free, a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage All of this has always been propaganda, nothing more. The average unskilled worker has never had a good life in America.

sokoloff 6y ago
Has the average unskilled worker "had a good life" at any time or place in the Earth's history?
astrange 6y ago
It was pretty good in the postwar era if they were white, since the average worker came back from the war on the GI Bill and got free education and subsidized suburb buildouts.

colinmhayes 6y ago

Black people might object to the US once being "land of the free." In fact, almost every unskilled worker might.

yeetman21 6y ago

who the fuck is begging for scraps. with 15$ an hour they are living like kings in their hometown, above the median income

lotsofpulp 6y ago
No one is living like kings on $15 per hour anywhere in the US. Unless your definition of kings includes lack of retirement security, income security, health security, and working back breaking shift work at odd hours. They will especially be vulnerable in their 50 to 65 years, when they will become unemployable for manual labor work. They'll be able to put a roof over their head, and not worry about their kids' next meal or maybe even their kid breaking their arm. But they're not going to advance to the next rung of the socioeconomic ladder.
- refurb 6y ago
  Two parents working at Amazon almost hit median household income in the US. Houses in that part of AL cost <$100k, so ownership is within reach. Retirement is provided by social security (pays better than Canada’s public pension does). And they get great health insurance from Amazon. You’re painting way too bleak of a picture based on zero data.
  - gremlinsinc 6y ago
    My best friend growing up in the 80's - his dad made around $20/hour, working at a GM factory in the union. Mom was a stay-at-home mom. House was paid for, everything they bought they paid cash, pension, the works. This was basically the norm from 40s to late 80s after reganomics started widdling away workers' rights. This is the way it should be - 1 parent at home, 1 bringing home $$. Else, the government should cover child care, or pay stay-at-home parents a salary for providing their own child care.
- yeetman21 6y ago
  Not everywhere in the US is SF or NYC. 15$ an hour is a very good wage (especially for non skilled work) in a majority of the US
lolinder 6y ago
Above the median income in a small town doesn't mean you've got a great absolute standard of living, it just means you're better off than others in your town. If a company can sell its products two towns over for 2x the price Bessemer can afford, it's not going to slash prices in Bessemer just because everyone there is poor.

abledon 6y ago

dude it was only free before the colonialists came over and killed all the indians :laugh: :cry: