Comparing the 1930's and 40's economy vs today

[John23]

Originally Posted by user_id

Huh? Dude....your view of the past is romanticized TV junk. Have you even bothered to look things up? Of course not, who cares about actual history.

"-The nuclear family isnt romanticized." What does that even mean? Nuclear families exist today just as well as yesterday. Are you trying to suggest that everyone was living in a happy little family back then? Unwed [SIZE=-1]pregnancies grew rapidly in the 1940's, national divorce rates were about the same as they were in the 90's, etc. [/SIZE]

"-Mom or dad coming home from work at a decent hour isnt romanticized." I don't get this either, individuals work less hours now not more. The majority of people work 9~5 jobs.

"-The general stress level and quality of life." Is this a joke? Yeah, no strees between 1930~1940's. There was just the great depression and the largest war the global as ever seen...no stress at all! What planet are you on? Honeslty, do yourself a favor. Put the TV shows away and go have a face to face conversation with someone both in the 20's.



Yeah, I'm sure you do.... But why? Why do you need debt today but did not need it before? The only thing that is at all different is the case of education, but far fewer people went to college back then. But you don't need to go into debt to go to college.


YouTube - Gogol Bordello - Ultimate (on The Henry Rollins Show)

None of it is romanticized television. Of course they had their own set of problems. Life expectency was lower. The 30's depression, WWII.

But for the average family, the stress of paying bills simply wasnt there, like it is today. Did the average family stress about paying for day care in the 30's to 50's like today? Probably not. Not to mention healthcare, college, worries about bankruptcy, being sued, etc.

I think subsound hit the nail on the head.

-People feel like they arent in control of their own fate.
-The self esteem movement, coddling, etc have stunted peoples ability to take responsibility.
-Useless college degrees (and masters, phds) vs the previous big 6.

I think college has almost turned into a cult in this country. When I was in school in the 80's and 90's, it was pounded into your head, almost daily, college, college, college. It was implied...boy if you dont go to college, you'll be a loser forever. You'll be flipping burgers.

You can do inexpensive options like a community college (which I went to before a 4 year school). Made perfect sense to me at the time, it was very inexpensive. But I remember highschool teachers I had looking down on that at the time.

CC, trade school, mechanical work are great. But its implied that its secondary. College is always seen at the top (rightly or wrongly).

I think students today are funnelled into an overpriced sham. I dont think as many would be 8 or 10 year undergrads if they could see some light at the end of the tunnel beforehand. In the non romanticized past, some would have gone into union jobs or factory work. And the whole situation is flipped around.

[John23]

Student Debt Grows Dramatically - WSJ.com

Two thirds of college students borrow to pay for college and the average debt is $23 k.

12 years ago, 58% of people borrowed to pay for college and the average debt was $13 k.

And some of the examples are pretty sad, a $60 k journalism degree. $175 k in student loans for a law degree.

Law school at the university of pittsburgh, $181 k in debt.

Part of me thinks that this latest recession/depression was created in part so students would have to borrow more to pay for school. Seems awfully convenient that you wipe out jobs and savings, shake peoples confidence. Make them uncertain about the future. Then insert the solution, of course college! (with govt and banks as beneficiaries).

[user_id]

Originally Posted by John23

None of it is romanticized television.

But it is...its completely detached from actual history.

Originally Posted by John23

But for the average family, the stress of paying bills simply wasnt there, like it is today. Did the average family stress about paying for day care in the 30's to 50's like today? Probably not. Not to mention healthcare, college, worries about bankruptcy, being sued, etc.

Again, I have to ask whether you are joking or not. The stress of paying bills was not there during the 1930 and 1940's? Please...and I mean it...please tell me where you got this from. Do you have one ounce of actual evidence to support this view?


The rest of what you're saying is complaining about education, as if people did not look down on people for doing XYZ in the past...Its actually easier for your average lower/middle class kid to go to college today than it was during the 1930's and 1940's. But the number of people going to college today is much greater so making any sort of comparison is difficult. But with a more advanced economy comes the need for more advanced skills.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by John23

Part of me thinks that this latest recession/depression was created in part so students would have to borrow more to pay for school.

The belief in wizards! Sorry, there is no wizard controlling the economy.

College debt is greater today than before because in the past the only kids that went to college were the kids with money. Its real easy to go back to that system, just tell all the poor/middle income kids that they can't go to college anymore.

[John23]

Originally Posted by user_id

Again, I have to ask whether you are joking or not. The stress of paying bills was not there during the 1930 and 1940's? Please...and I mean it...please tell me where you got this from. Do you have one ounce of actual evidence to support this view?

There was a good link in another thread about cost of living in 1957 vs 2007.

The “Cost of Living”; 1957 vs. 2007 « Mercyman53’s Weblog

[user_id]

Originally Posted by John23

There was a good link in another thread about cost of living in 1957 vs 2007.

The “Cost of Living”; 1957 vs. 2007 « Mercyman53’s Weblog

I'm just curious, if I wrote a blog most about unicorns will you believe in them? There is not a single citation to anything in that post.

But besides that...in what world is a post about the 1957 cost of living evidence that people in the 1930's and 1940's were "less stressed about paying bills". Obviously, its about a different time period and...ahem your claim is one about how people felt and not about cost of living.

I know it may be too much to ask, but perhaps you could visit the library to learn about the 30's and 40's instead of watch banal TV shows from that period.