For me, the American dream is dead. And even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t purchase a new house unless I had 5-10 times the cash to do. And I’m not even sure I’d buy in the country, frankly. Though I do like areas in the south.
Even if I could, which I cannot, I would not purchase a new car because of property and sales taxes. So I keep the old one going as long as possible.
For me, the new dream is to survive, stay away from criminalized areas, help a few others when I rarely can, and see if I can regain employment in something close to my field.
It all changed very rapidly 2007-2008. A lot of people think it’s still like 2003-2005. I can assure them it is not. It’s a stark reality. I just returned from late-night shopping, cooking for friends tomorrow. Most of the stores around me, most days per week, even a big store like Target (gag) has maybe 20-25 customers at any time.
There is absolutely no way they’re paying building, lot, employees, utilities and taxes on what little they sell.
It is just a matter of time.
I understand; the dream is dead for many. I’m glad my children never knew how good this used to be, since it would probably depress them (and they are too young for that). I’ve never owned a new car, and my house is an old fixer-upper (thankfully purchased before the bubble). If Americans had continued having families there would be a political solution to this; instead, they are voiceless now at the ballot box.
Stores in my area are staffed at bare-bones levels; the few jobs out there are part-time with various shift availability required (in other words, they are not designed to be a second job - they are designed to be your only job). NJ continues to drive employers away with burdensome taxes and regulations; besides the casino industry job losses, we now have Mercedes moving its HQ down to Atlanta.
It is just grim...