Then and Now... Are we better off today?

I got to thinking about the outrageous price of gas...  I remember when I could fill up on $5!  Minimum wage was less than $2 back then, so you worked a little more than 3 hours (at minimum wage) to fill your car's belly.

At today's gas prices, and current minimum wage, the same person needs to work a day and a half to pay to fill up the tank!   

  we make more money today, but are we better off?



please share your thoughts!

ABSOLUTELY!!=NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we were a lot better off in the 60's and 70's than we are now, (less goverment & less rules)

I would not want to be a young couple trying to buy a house today.
The average house around here is about $400.000 how can anyone afford that?
I put down $15.000 on my first house that was $75.000 I sold that to buy my current house and I still
Have not paid it off yet! 27 years later.
How are they ever going to do it.
Sad

I've always been broke, but lately it seems I am brokerer

1969 bought my 1st -NEW!! House - completely furnished-all appliances! Qualdasac in new subdivision!!  Ready to move into - ready=???   $18,500.00!!! Neighbor next to me today  bought his new home -was 4 years old -orig. sold for $350.000.00 in20086-he paid  ready?? $665,000.00
then the market fell on its butt!! Good 'ol usa & our government.      

The Obama Doctrine

NUFF SAID!

I'd like it the way it was in the 70's, but WITH the technology of today please.   

Im with -SCOTT and more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

The government has been around in it's current configuration since 1787, with a legislative branch making laws the whole time. So, we have a LOT of laws now, and we will keep getting more because that's what Congress does.

THe basics were covered in the Constitution, and common sense supplied the rest..... but in order to justify their existence, Congress has to keep making laws. So we get a Federal Government micro managing our lives, which is exactly the opposite of what the Founding Fathers wanted.

I don't see it getting any better, folks. Eventually, in the name of safety and emissions, all vintage vehicles will be leglislated off the road.

Technology... good and bad....

Today we get to know folks from all over the world via the web that the vast majority will never meet in person, but how many of us get to know other people who live close to us, say within walking distance? Sad fact, many people are afraid or indifferent to get to their neighbors...

When I was a kid, we had block parties on holidays etc., and the neighbors got together to help each other out with major home improvement projects. Does that even happen any more?

Its seems like, just when you think we are moving forward, something happens and all you can say is WTF! were they thinking. Airplanes without pilots, cars that park themselves-then kill someone when they lose power from hitting a pothole and have no steering. Facebook and twitter and web cams LIVE in the vehicle while driving?????? ....GAS PRICES...is only the tip of the iceberg. Are we better off? I don't know anymore. Then I hear of a breakthrough in a surgical procedure or a new way of treating cancer (my dad) and I think...Thank God for those that pioneered and kept trying to rethink the wheel. In some cases we are better off, and in others...not so much.

chebby wrote:Technology...   good and bad....  

Today we get to know folks from all over the world via the web that the vast majority will never meet in person, but how many of us get to know other people who live close to us, say within walking distance?  Sad fact, many people are afraid or indifferent to get to their neighbors...

When I was a kid, we had block parties on holidays etc., and the neighbors got together to help each other out with major home improvement projects.  Does that even happen any more?

My neighborhood is still like that..... Saturdays in the summer are party night around the bonfire....

The latest here in NY are speed cameras around schools. So if you speed in a school zone big brother now can give you a ticket from a camera!
How long before they are everywhere..
I agree with Scott plus more. I don't even want to start about the shape of "our" government.
They say most dominate states, countries, empires whatever you want to call them. The roman empire, the Greeks, the Egyptians etc last about 200 years before they fail. I think we are headed in that direction.

Unfortionatly, we have ourselves to blame. Only about 67% of people are registered to vote, of that about 50% actually do vote and it only takes 51% to win, so in essence, the loud mouth 20 - 25% voted Obama in. And on top of that, the politicians are in for 40 years or more, gaining more and more power. It is no longer Left versus Right. It is We the people versus the elite. Doesn't mater wheather you are Dem. or rep., If your representative has been in office more than two terms, vote them out. The peopkle that create the problems CANNOT fix them, they think the same way. It is time for some new blood in office with fresh new thoughts. VOTE!!

We have reached the point where those in power are only interested in remaining in power. Historically, collapse is not far behind.

vanner68 wrote:The government has been around in it's current configuration since 1787, with a legislative branch making laws the whole time. So, we have a LOT of laws now, and we will keep getting more because that's what Congress does.

THe basics were covered in the Constitution, and common sense supplied the rest..... but in order to justify their existence, Congress has to keep making laws. So we get a Federal Government micro managing our lives, which is exactly the opposite of what the Founding Fathers wanted.

I don't see it getting any better, folks. Eventually, in the name of safety and emissions, all vintage vehicles will be leglislated off the road.

X2

gotta' agree w/all y'all. US has been on a downward spiral since before i was born. ('67) Nixon sold us out to China. no difference between dems and repubs. "slowbama and the audacity of nope" VOTE 3rd PARTY! we coulda been drivin' around '59 Cadillac limos w/ zero emissions on propane if our "representatives" gave a $hit about the world or their constituents!

At least we have the internet to have our thoughts travel beyond our local towns! And HD TV's too....

And we are driving around in the same old vans- maybe someday we can buy new ones.  Lol.

mikeysly wrote:gotta' agree w/all y'all. US has been on a downward spiral since before i was born. ('67) Nixon sold us out to China. no difference between dems and repubs. "slowbama and the audacity of nope" VOTE 3rd PARTY! we coulda been drivin' around '59 Cadillac limos w/ zero emissions on propane if our "representatives" gave a $hit about the world or their constituents!

I am amazed that someone else knows how Nixon screwed us over opening trade with China!

Most people can't get past Watergate.

My 2 cents, I have a "good job" as I'm told, make decent money. But I do side work to survive, this used to be extra money for my projects/toys. Now seems as fast as money comes in it goes back out. I feel for the next generation, they are never going to get ahead. Most of the guys i work with are getting close to retirement age and alot of them are not going to get to retire, going to have to work an extra 5-8 years

[quote="pan58head"]My 2 cents, I have a "good job" as I'm told, make decent money. But I do side work to survive, this used to be extra money for my projects/toys. Now seems as fast as money comes in it goes back out. I feel for the next generation, they are never going to get ahead. Most of the guys i work with are getting close to retirement age and alot of them are not going to get to retire, going to have to work an extra 5-8 years[/quote}

Same here it seems that I just can't do enough. Working 12 to 16 hour days/nights + most weekends and still can't get ahead anymore. Now you get to do all this just so the cradle to the grave welfare people can have $500 phones, $300+ outfits and BMWs, free housing,food, transportation and more. Far to many of these people have no desire to work or get an education as they cry for more more more. I have to see this every day and it makes me sick  . Sorry I had to vent a little.

thanks for the compliment Vanner68! i do a lot of reading so I can know why and how all the skulduggery that got us in this situation happened. cold comfort, pyrrhic victory for a poor guy. I will probably die in penury, but at least I'll be drivin' in style 'til I get to my dyin' day!