[LSJohn]

I think you know I agree with most of #9 -- which is an excellent post -- but there's one additional thing to think about regarding this: "For all the talk about living standards, people in the United States must now work longer hours to provide homes for their families. Where one wage earner could earn enough to provide for his family, we now see two wage earners having to work full time, and losing ground all the while."

I think this has more to do with instant gratification and thoughtless, irresponsible decisions than exported jobs and imported workers (although those certainly have their detrimental effects.) Many middle-class families now choose to have two cars, 3 TVs (all on satellite or cable), 3 telephones, 2 VCRs, a computer, fax, dishwasher, microwave, two bathrooms, a burglar alarm, riding mower, $150 shoes and Tommy Hilfiger gear for each of the kids, etc, etc -- none of which our parents had -- instead of having a full-time parent at home.

This is not to overlook the difficulties of those below the economic middle class who have been most hurt by the reorganization of the economy. A family of four may not have any of those items I mentioned if their only income is from two minimum wage jobs.

[DoughtyOne]

I would agree that to a certain extent, choices do impact the family need for income. To a large extent certain decisions are forced on people.

Items like VCRs and multiple electronic gadgets around the home are additional costs by choice. But frequently these are one time purchases, not reoccuring. Cell phones and car payments are.

With two incomes being needed to support the family, a second car frequently becomes necessary. The cell phone, which might look like a extra people could do without, is frequently needed since the adults are having to react to a more harried pace that parents a generation ago did. Mom or dad leaves work heading to pick up the kids when the other spouse lets them know of a change in arrangements. Or perhaps there's a need to pick up something on the way home.

I realize that this is still somewhat of a avoidable service, but at the same time it's hard to dismiss it as purely an option.

I am willing to buy off on some of the extras that we chose to purchase. Cable seems a service we could do without. But then children almost have to have access to cable if they are going to avoid being that one kid that doesn't know what the heck other kids are refering to at school. Without this exposure, the kid can be judged to be a wierdo. Of course that can be prevented by home schooling, but sometimes that isn't an option.

Perhaps I'm going overboard to make the case for some of the expenses we pass off as option choices, but I do think some of these items are not as optional as one might suspect.

Still, I'm not willing to dimiss your comments because I do think there is some merit to your arguement as well.