> If you were totally destitute in 1900 or 1800 you might starve. But the costs incurred on your way back up were more like steps than cliffs. "Back up?" Ever

> If you were totally destitute in 1900 or 1800 you might starve. But the costs incurred on your way back up were more like steps than cliffs. "Back up?" Ever heard of workhouses, or debtors' prisons? There wasn't a 'back up', generally.