“In 1970, only 34% of new homes offered air conditioning. By 1990, it was 76%. In 1970, the average size of a new home was 1,500 sq. ft. By 1990, that had increased to 2,080. In 1970, only 34% of households owned a color TV. By 1990, it was 96%. In 1970, 29% of households owned two or more cars. By 1990, it was 54%. In 1970, the real median household net worth was $24,217. By 1990 it had increased to $48,887. In 1970, Americans owned 8.8 million recreational boats. By 1990, that number had doubled. In 1970, only 52% of Americans finished high school. By 1990, that percentage was up to 78%. In 1970, 13.5% of Americans finished four years of college. By 1990 that was up to 25%. The list goes on.... “
Your post bears repeating. I didn’t have AC until 1982 (my husband bought a window unit when we brought our first baby home from the hospital). My best friend didn’t have an indoor bathroom until 1968. We didn’t have “city” water; bathed in pond water and drank “cistern” water. We didn’t consider ourselves poor.
Folks who are complaining didn’t live through the Carter years (1977 - 1981) when there was double-digit inflation, double-digit unemployment, and double-digit interest rates. Even people who qualified couldn’t get a home loan. There weren’t just high gas prices, there were gas shortages with long lines of cars hoping to get a partial fill-up. You couldn’t afford more than one car. (By the way, I thought cars then were much better; didn’t dent at the slightest nudge and an average person could repair them, usually rather cheaply). President Carter encouraged everyone to turn their thermostat way down and put on a sweater. I was actually collecting recipes for wild game in fear of the coming anarchy.
These folks need to get some perspective.
Good post.
I grew up in a family of five, 1200 square foot house. Heated with wood. The TV was VHF only, two channels. No A/C. We had two cars (one a truck), both over 10 years old. We raised our own beef, chickens and had a garden. A clothesline instead of a dryer.
Our telephone was on a party line. We shared one bathroom with a tub. We wore our clothes twice between washing in the winter. No dishwasher. We wore hand me downs from our cousins and traded clothes with the neighbors.
In our area, we were middle class. And I grew up in the late ‘60s and ‘70s. Gas lines. 15 percent interest rates. Stagflation.
Families are hurting today? We are responsible for ourselves. Live within your means. If you want more, earn more.
I’m amazed how populism even affects conservatives.