You can get a great education today, but there are essentially no more spots at the Ivies than 20 years ago, so if you want the best-in-breed college degree[1],

You can get a great education today, but there are essentially no more spots at the Ivies than 20 years ago, so if you want the best-in-breed college degree[1], it's much harder because there is more competition. You can get housing much easier than a generation ago, although there is a trend to be bigger. If you want to be in the best area[1], there are only so many spots and they are not being produced anywhere near enough. If you want 1960s health care today, it's dirt cheap. But most people want the latest and greatest in health care, personally delivered by doctors. Labor is expensive. [1] however you define that