Posted on 04/16/2017 3:25:57 PM PDT by TBP
Americans are stuck. Locked into our jobs, rooted where we live, frozen at our income levels. More than at any previous point in our history, we’ve stopped moving — whether moving up the income ladder or packing up a truck and finding another home. We’ve grown ossified, rigid.
The flip side is that we’re stable. If we weren’t so content, we’d be more willing to gamble, to shake things up, to start a new firm or join one. Maybe we’re fine where we are. But maybe this period of stasis cannot last. Maybe it even portends a period of massive disruption.
In “The Complacent Class: The Self-Defeating Quest for the American Dream,” economist Tyler Cowen presents an X-ray of societal sclerosis. This isn’t merely another exercise in nostalgia, a sentimental yearning for a bygone era (when, for instance, crime and pollution were higher, people were highly likely to marry someone who lived within five blocks and you would buy an album containing 10 lousy songs because you liked one track). Something has changed in the American character and in the American economy, and the two seem to be reinforcing each other.
For instance, parts of the country (New York City, Silicon Valley, Texas) are doing extremely well, yet able-bodied adults sit idle in other areas. Why don’t the unemployed, and the large numbers who have dropped out of the labor force, move to the boom towns? Wouldn’t it be better to drive an Uber in Brooklyn than to get by on welfare in West Virginia?
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
” Wouldn’t it be better to drive an Uber in Brooklyn than to get by on welfare in West Virginia?”
Is this from the Onion?
From what I’ve read on Uber forums, the newest drivers get the most jobs. An “old” driver can have only been driving for two weeks before his down time is hours at a time, sitting in his car or spending money at a coffee shop waiting for his next assignment. This happened to my husband. Simply wasn’t worth it.
At holidays, they push getting out to drive and that floods the market. Good for passengers, bad for drivers.
Interesting and true point. Now, whenever I watch a Southern politician in Washington or even in his home state, they all speak with northern accents!
Uber is the new rickshaw driver
Pooorly paid and without options.
Interesting tidbits, thanks. Being down for hours would totally bite.
this is why good homeschooled and Christian schooled men are being killed in disproportionate amounts in the military.
they need to lower their standards.
as I said earlier.
Uber drives are the new rickshaw pullers of india.
Yeah. Not a good gig. And anyone who attempts to move to NYC to drive with Uber is an idiot. As is this author.
I agree; the whole Uber phenomenon is disturbing on two levels up front: A growing number of young people can’t afford cars of their own, and a growing number of car buyers can’t pay their bills without “sharing” the car. Years ago Americans used to buy cars and homes; now they rent both (via car leases) or use Uber instead.
A sad indication of the decline in our standard of living...
In an economy like this, those with jobs from the “before-times” will hang on to them rather than trade them for a McJob with lower pay/no benefits; they need those “old jobs” just to maintain their homes (mortgage, taxes, etc.). Also, since so many Americans forego children now, there is less desire to flee to a place better suited for raising families - which often motivated families in the past. As for the ageing aspect, childless young people simply inherit the parents’ home without ever moving out - they can move from the basement to the main bedroom. There is little motivation for young people to buy homes of their own, and plenty of disincentives.
This trend is the main reason our borders are left open.
Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner.
Very good points. Even getting one’s own apartment is a good start, as I keep telling #1 Son.
I suspect many parents, especially those in areas zoned only for single-family homes (where conversion to a 2-family isn’t allowed), would rather the kids stay & save rather than end up living in a large half-empty home. My children are still teens, but in my area I can’t see them getting an apartment of their own for a long time.
I know. You are missing NOTHING here. I used to feel like this place was the center of the universe, because it is a very self important city, but if you came back today you would be shocked. Life quality is so much better elsewhere.
Homeless where you NEVER saw homeless before. Cops can do NOTHING unless the tent is over x feet long or some STUPID camping violation!!! Defacating on streets is NO BIG DEAL apparently. Why are diseases rampant in third world places where there are no sewers?? Hm...
And the south central gangs wised up. In a bad way. I know you once lived there. Well, they figured out that having territory where they live was not much. To pick from. So they have chosen territories in other neighborhoods in the valleys and hills, and they just come through in nice cars and rob and burgle. They don’t care if you are home. They just come in, grab quick money and jewelry etc, and go. They drive nice cars, they walk the streets here pretending to be jogging or walking dogs etc.
Worst is by the freeway areas where there is brush: these areas are FILLED with homeless encampments. There used to be one or two guys in there, fairly well hidden. Not any more.
Yet certain southlamd towns that aren’t run by LA still are clean and beautiful. Manhattan Beach for instance. You can live there if you have $2 million to buy a 1950s 2 bedroom wooden teardown. They have a great school district, a strong police dept that has everything, and the best weather in LA. But the house we used to live in was worth $1m5, now it’s worth $3 mil. In 5 years.
I agree; the whole Uber phenomenon is disturbing on two levels up front: A growing number of young people can’t afford cars of their own, and a growing number of car buyers can’t pay their bills without “sharing” the car. Years ago Americans used to buy cars and homes; now they rent both (via car leases) or use Uber instead.
A sad indication of the decline in our standard of living...
a terrific observation
post of the day!
We have 11 people in our house. They’re still too comfortable to move out.
New Yorkers come down to Baltimore for the drugs which has always struck me as odd.
Thanks; I’m glad my children were born after the “good times”, because this would all seem so disappointing to them...
Well, maybe hurry half of them along... ;)
What's so great about owning an asset that depreciates considerably once you drive it off the lot?
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