Our economy is light years different and structurally worse than the Carter years. Carter was unable to wreck America through his bumbling leftism. But at least under Carter we were not running huge trade deficits. We manufactured a lot more of what we consumed. We imported a lot less oil. We didn’t have such huge Federal, state and consumer debt. We did not try and juice the economy via internet bubbles and real estate bubbles. We didn’t have a Fed Reserve with a zero rate interest policy
America was basically sound so RR was able to make correct the Jimmy Carter mistakes and put us on an upward trajectory
During the Carter years we sure didn’t know RR was going to come along and make things better, had no idea if anyone could fix the mess at the time. I worked in construction then and it sure tanked- being a young adult around other young adults I do remember jobs were hard to come by, and we were all working hard at whatever job/s we could get just to survive. Most of us had roomates just to get by, I am not seeing that yet on the level it was then.
We did import less oil but we were told we were running out and had to conserve energy- though at the then high prices of fuel trust me we were conserving as much as we could. Interest rates were so high even buying a car was out of the question for most people and I knew several who watched their small businesses fold because they could not afford to borrow money to stay in business waiting for RR to come save us all.
I have no idea if the issues we have now can be solved or when or by who- we didn’t know that either then, trust me. Hindsight is great. We did know things were bad, and we were glad to have jobs.
The whole point is the economy IS bad, so now is not the time to whine and complain about working hard or working holidays. It is a time to be very greatful if one is employed and is not on the street wishing for a job- even a job where employees are expected to work holidays is a blessing not something to whine about.
I am wondering why this whole thread is about Walmart employees working long hours on Thanksgiving due to the whole Black Friday sales- many stores are doing the same- and Walmart competes with those stores. Is it ok for anyone but Walmart to make a big deal of Thanksgiving/Black Friday sales and require their employees to work on a holiday?
NO ONE is forced to work or shop at Walmart. That is the bottom line.