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Well, let's see... my first job payed a wage of $2.65 per hour (which was right around 40 years ago). If my purchasing power hadn't have increased drastically between then and now, I'd have starved to death a long, long time ago.
Exactly. Isn't that about you gaining experience and therefore value?
Shouldn't the true test be comparing apples to apples? The purchasing power of someone in a specific industry like the automotive industry, now vs 30 years ago?
The average American hasn't had a raise in 40 years, quit fooling yourself.
I retired at 55, this year 11 days after my birthday. Yeah I enjoyed a good job with pretty good cost of living increases. No thanks to such wonderful programs like NAFTA or giving China most favored nation status.
Increases in purchasing power and heightened consumerism have come from imports of goods at lower prices from Asia primarily. There would be no Wal-Mart if not for China. It has come at the cost of millions of good paying jobs in America.
The average American hasn't had a raise in 40 years, quit fooling yourself.
Apples and oranges.
The “ average” lives in larger space with fewer others, acquires more stuff and does more things than “ average” did 40- 50 years ago. The “ average” has a far greater opportunity to survive a nasty diagnosis than “average” did 40 years ago. The “ average” is substantially heavier than “ average” was 40 years ago.
“ Average” pays a lower tax rate on income than “ average” did 40 years ago. The earned Income Tax Credit did not exist 40 years ago.
The average and median age of the population is older than it was 40 years ago.
What has changed the most are the number of job functions eliminated by technology substitution/ industrial robotics- far mare than jobs offshored.
But with rising costs, including cost of living, the wage increase is not really seen. To me it's...Well wages increased, let's increase the taxes and politicians wages to equal that out!
The perception and context of may politicians and media types is that Americans have had stagnant wages - that individuals do not see a growth in wages after factoring out inflation over the long-term.
School districts I know of give raises simply for years taught. You also get raises for recertifying...something that you are required to do if you want to keep teaching anyways (just as a pharmacist is required to keep studying about new drugs, etc...).
You are yet another person denying the studies, but not voting in the poll. I am guessing that you have experienced your income rising, but feel saying so is detrimental to your argument denying the study?
I don't think it is true that Americans misunderstand the concept.
I really don't.
I don't vote on the polls on these boards.
And our household income didn't rise because wages have risen in value. They have risen because of advancements in a career.
And I'm not denying the studies...I'm explaining how you are comparing peas and oranges.
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