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The reason I have a hard time with the luck theory is that companies are far more profitable, and workers are far more productive today than they were back then

by rhelz 3y ago

The reason I have a hard time with the luck theory is that companies are far more profitable, and workers are far more productive today than they were back then. So why all the advice for tech workers to just accept that they have to live in poverty. And yeah, that's the word for it. The recommended lifestyle is not recognizable as anything like middle class. Don't buy a home. Don't go to college or send your kids to college. Commute from somewhere we don't have to see you or associate with you.

zeroCalories 3y ago
The problem isn't pay, the problem is the cost of housing(and education). Even if everyone got a 3x pay raise we would probably see a 4x increase in housing costs because fundamentally there is a supply issue. Until politicians are ready to tank the housing market by either investing in public housing, up zoning, deregulating, etc. the problem will never get better. You can still participate in the system if you want, but I refuse to take on life ruining risk to join a rat-race where lead poisoned boomer home owners get to squeeze me for 50% of my salary every month. If we lived in a sane economy with good labor protections(like the eu), or fair housing prices(like Tokyo) then we could talk about it.
ElevenLathe 3y ago
Agreed that we are wealthier now as a planet and a country than during the Fordist era, but that's why it's called political economy. Our society is richer but labor is worse off. This is in line with historical norms throughout almost all of recorded history. Tyranny and poverty are the rule, not the exception. I agree that this state of affairs is unacceptable but from my perspective it's just good luck that my grandpa was able to live during the era he did. He certainly didn't plan it that way!
- rhelz 3y ago
  Well, I’m glad we can agree that the current situation is unacceptable—my grandfather, who was a janitor, would have been ashamed if that’s how his family had to live. OTOH, my other grandfather, who belonged to a union, fought hard so that his family didn’t have to live like that. Americans used to make their own luck.

by rhelz 3y ago

zeroCalories 3y ago

The problem isn't pay, the problem is the cost of housing(and education). Even if everyone got a 3x pay raise we would probably see a 4x increase in housing costs because fundamentally there is a supply issue. Until politicians are ready to tank the housing market by either investing in public housing, up zoning, deregulating, etc. the problem will never get better. You can still participate in the system if you want, but I refuse to take on life ruining risk to join a rat-race where lead poisoned boomer home owners get to squeeze me for 50% of my salary every month. If we lived in a sane economy with good labor protections(like the eu), or fair housing prices(like Tokyo) then we could talk about it.

ElevenLathe 3y ago

Agreed that we are wealthier now as a planet and a country than during the Fordist era, but that's why it's called political economy. Our society is richer but labor is worse off. This is in line with historical norms throughout almost all of recorded history. Tyranny and poverty are the rule, not the exception. I agree that this state of affairs is unacceptable but from my perspective it's just good luck that my grandpa was able to live during the era he did. He certainly didn't plan it that way!

rhelz 3y ago
Well, I’m glad we can agree that the current situation is unacceptable—my grandfather, who was a janitor, would have been ashamed if that’s how his family had to live. OTOH, my other grandfather, who belonged to a union, fought hard so that his family didn’t have to live like that. Americans used to make their own luck.