patrick.net

"Instead, the cost of most of life’s necessities, from food to clothing to shelter, has stabilized or dropped over the past two decades care of the deflationary effects of technology. It isn’t just that you can get a large flat-screen TV for next to nada. You can get a car that uses less fuel and is far safer for less money (inflation adjusted) than a gas guzzler of yesteryear. Thank, in part, composite materials, which also require less energy to produce than 20th century steel. You can get a smorgasbord of caloric abundance for a fraction of the cost of a much less varied diet in 1950; you can access new medicines to extend lives by years; and you can access for free on the Internet incalculable reams of data, costing you nothing but your time."

Folks this why I keep saying our standard of living has never been better. Even welfare recipients have luxuries that only the very rich could afford just a generation ago. It took cave men hours just to ignite a fire. Imagine the look on their faces if we could just show them what a match stick can do.

Strategist says

Folks this why I keep saying our standard of living has never been better.

This is absurd. Add housing costs, healthcare, the disappearance of pensions, and education , and you will find the standard of living of the median family in this country has collapsed in 30 yrs.
It doesn't matter what tv you watch.

Heraclitusstudent says

Strategist says

Folks this why I keep saying our standard of living has never been better.

This is absurd. Add housing costs, healthcare, the disappearance of pensions, and education , and you will find the standard of living of the median family in this country has collapsed in 30 yrs.
It doesn't matter what tv you watch.

Housing, healthcare and education will always outperform the inflation rate in California. Everything else seems to get cheaper.
I watch CNBC and National Geographic.

tovarichpeter says

Has technology cured inflation?

Like all questions in news titles, the answer is no. The answer is always no.

Dan8267 says

tovarichpeter says

Has technology cured inflation?

Like all questions in news titles, the answer is no. The answer is always no.

Are you paying more for the same computing power and phone calls compared to 25 years ago? If not, the answer is always YES.

Inflation is alive and well. It's the way that they calculate it intentionally under reports it

But housing and medical care are 2 of the largest expenses in a household. Who cares about gas or food.

Strategist says

Are you paying more for the same computing power and phone calls compared to 25 years ago? If not, the answer is always YES.

What costs more housing or computers and smartphones? The answer is no.

It's a problem with monetary policy and our economic system.

Dan8267 says

Strategist says

Are you paying more for the same computing power and phone calls compared to 25 years ago? If not, the answer is always YES.

What costs more housing or computers and smartphones? The answer is no.

It's a problem with monetary policy and our economic system.

WTF. Housing costs more because you can't can't order a house on Amazon and have it delivered the next day. Unless you like living in a dog house.

Strategist says

Housing costs more because you can't can't order a house on Amazon and have it delivered the next day.

Really, that's the reason and land hording has nothing to do with it.

So if you could buy a house on Amazon, which would be trivial for the company to add, then housing would be cheap?

Dan8267 says

Strategist says

Housing costs more because you can't can't order a house on Amazon and have it delivered the next day.

Really, that's the reason and land hording has nothing to do with it.

Yup. That's the reason.

Strategist says

Housing, healthcare and education will always outperform the inflation rate in California. Everything else seems to get cheaper.

Yeah except people need Housing, healthcare and education. They don't have a choice. And nothing remains after they pay for that and food.
Aggregate inflation is just masking the stern reality.

Heraclitusstudent says

Strategist says

Housing, healthcare and education will always outperform the inflation rate in California. Everything else seems to get cheaper.

Yeah except people need Housing, healthcare and education. They don't have a choice. And nothing remains after they pay for that and food.
Aggregate inflation is just masking the stern reality.

I know, what do you do?
I think the initial stages of a young life are the most important. You have to make sacrifices and live within your means.

Strategist says

You have to make sacrifices and live within your means.

You'll never get laid doing that. Sex appeal is all about extravagance.

Dan8267 says

Strategist says

You have to make sacrifices and live within your means.

You'll never get laid doing that. Sex appeal is all about extravagance.

Oops I screwed up. Getting laid takes priority.
I recommend you enjoy life, charge up your credit cards, and get laid till your dick explodes. When the bills come, just declare bankruptcy.
Only in America.

Heraclitusstudent says

but when they are in power they go with it 95%.

Actually much less than half of Dems supported NAFTA.

Virtually all Reps did.