I don't buy that life was as bad as you are describing, that's still besides the point of the basic cost of living increasing. > You can live in a small place

I don't buy that life was as bad as you are describing, that's still besides the point of the basic cost of living increasing. > You can live in a small place and work a job that doesn’t require an education Indeed, you can get by with a little bit of training post high school, but even those jobs are drying up. Notice they are already at the margins of society. Previously high school was a significant achievement. You didn't address the car example. I can tell this isn't going to go anywhere. Good luck.