Crashing birth rates are triggering a global collapse.

[GroverCleveland]

Slapping composite wood cabinets and vinyl flooring in a modern house and declaring it "better" is again, subjective.

What's not subjective, is the fact that the ratio of affordability is higher today, than it was in 1965, regardless of your own perception of "value".

The ratio of affordability comparison absolutely depends on the comparative utility value of the thing considered.

 

[USF grad in TN]

The ratio of affordability comparison absolutely depends on the comparative utility value of the thing considered.

 

[Matt2496]

north of 300k? 200k?

even a decade, to 15 years ago the downpayment I put down on my house would have paid about 1/2 of what a nice home would have cost, and would have bought my current house. my parents bought their 3.5k sqft house in the early 2000s for that same downpayment in a nice neighborhood.

comparing this point in time to a point in time 60+ years ago gives a false picture of what happened. costs have sky rocketed in the last decade. there was no transition, and there was no great increase in the standard of living to go with that huge change in costs. you are acting like central heating is a brand new convenience to explain the costs.

This!!!!

This assumption that the quality of homes has gone up is also absurd. Yes, the quality is better today than it was in 1965, but compared to even 30 years ago, nope. Homes today (within reach of the average person) all look like copy pastes with the same cheap vinyl siding and color schemes. Back in the 90s or even just pre-COVID, you could get a nice brick home for an equivalent amount of money (adjusted for inflation of course).

This is a recurring theme in all aspects of modern society: Continue to pay more money for worse food along with smaller portions, worse service, and worse housing compared to recent decades.

 

[YankeeVol]

This!!!!

This assumption that the quality of homes has gone up is also absurd. Yes, the quality is better today than it was in 1965, but compared to even 30 years ago, nope. Homes today (within reach of the average person) all look like copy pastes with the same cheap vinyl siding and color schemes. Back in the 90s or even just pre-COVID, you could get a nice brick home for an equivalent amount of money (adjusted for inflation of course).

This is a recurring theme in all aspects of modern society: Continue to pay more money for worse food along with smaller portions, worse service, and worse housing compared to recent decades.

You can include vehicles too

 

[Matt2496]

You can include vehicles too

Absolutely. I always prefer older cars than newer ones because the newer ones are built to fail after a certain time (planned obsolescence). They build cars these days with cheap plastic parts. Back in the day (i.e. recent history) cars were built to last. Appliances are the same way. Quality is just generally worse than it was 20-40 years ago. At least we have our smart phones and door dash!!!!

 

[YankeeVol]

Absolutely. I always prefer older cars than newer ones because the newer ones are built to fail after a certain time (planned obsolescence). They build cars these days with cheap plastic parts. Back in the day (i.e. recent history) cars were built to last. Appliances are the same way. Quality is just generally worse than it was 20-40 years ago. At least we have our smart phones and door dash!!!!

IIRC, the average riding lawnmower (think Cub Cadet, John Deere, etc) has about a 5 year expected "life." For $2.5K+

 

[GroverCleveland]

IIRC, the average riding lawnmower (think Cub Cadet, John Deere, etc) has about a 5 year expected "life." For $2.5K+

Vs. the ubiquitous Snapper with the bicycle steering for $400.

 

[volbound1700]

View attachment 798596

The high point in America wasn't the 1960s, it was the 1980s and 1990s. Compare home size with those decades.

1980s and 1990s will be the golden era of USA history IMO.

 

[Weezy]

Absolutely. I always prefer older cars than newer ones because the newer ones are built to fail after a certain time (planned obsolescence). They build cars these days with cheap plastic parts. Back in the day (i.e. recent history) cars were built to last. Appliances are the same way. Quality is just generally worse than it was 20-40 years ago. At least we have our smart phones and door dash!!!!

This is something that gets said a lot and just isn’t true. Cars today have a lifespan of at least 13 years, double what it was in the 70s. And it has always been increasing.

 

[Matt2496]

This is something that gets said a lot and just isn’t true. Cars today have a lifespan of at least 13 years, double what it was in the 70s. And it has always been increasing.

I'm talking cars made pre 2020.

 

[Boston Vol]

 

[LSU-SIU]

The high point in America wasn't the 1960s, it was the 1980s and 1990s. Compare home size with those decades.

1980s and 1990s will be the golden era of USA history IMO.

As far as significant scale, not sure 1985 U.S. will ever be beat as far as a general lifestyle quality (somewhat subjective) at least in record able history. Since that time, generally speaking yesterday is better than today i.e. slow grind down hill.

 

[hog88]

Decide you don't like your wife, put papers in her hand and tell her to hit the road sounds pretty easy to me.

View attachment 798570

My stand on divorce is not rooted in religion. I’m simply not a quitter.

 

[Ritzwatch]

As far as significant scale, not sure 1985 U.S. will ever be beat as far as a general lifestyle quality (somewhat subjective) at least in record able history. Since that time, generally speaking yesterday is better than today i.e. slow grind down hill.

John Hughes movies could never be made today.

The 80’s were awesome.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

It's a good thing I don't believe in divorce, otherwise me and the wife would have been done by year 5.

People quit on their marriages way to easily.

To be fair, way too many people get into them too easily.

 

[hog88]

To be fair, way too many people get into them too easily.

Agreed, it should be harder to get married than to get a divorce.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

Agreed

I've come close twice but reason prevailed both times.

 

[Ritzwatch]

Decide you don't like your wife, put papers in her hand and tell her to hit the road sounds pretty easy to me.

View attachment 798570

That is a terrible translation of that passage. “Because he has found something wrong with her” instead of the original “uncleaness” (I.e. sexual immorality)?

Cf. Matthew 5:31-32; Matt 19:8.

 

[Ritzwatch]

I've come close twice but reason prevailed both times.

Same intended victim or are you entering “serial” territory?

 

[DinkinFlicka]

Same intended victim or are you entering “serial” territory?

Hell no. I never double stamp.

 

[Ritzwatch]

Hell no. I never double stamp.

Never know.

Sometimes you just don’t want to change the tatts.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

Never know.

Sometimes you just don’t want to change the tatts.

Matching tattoos? I'll only do that if we're old and wrinkled.

 

[Ritzwatch]

Matching tattoos? I'll only do that if we're old and wrinkled.

Not matching, just saving the trouble of finding another “MEGHAN” after inking the first one down your rib cage.

Alternatively, easier than convincing Sidney or Isabella to ignore the Meghan down your side.

But, I’ve learned not to underestimate you, Dink. You probably have your wiley ways.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

Not matching, just saving the trouble of finding another “MEGHAN” after inking the first one down your rib cage.

Alternatively, easier than convincing Sidney or Isabella to ignore the Meghan down your side.

But, I’ve learned not to underestimate you, Dink. You probably have your wiley ways.

I worked with this cook years ago who, as a joke, had a list of trashy women's names down his calf with X's over them.

I kind of want a tramp stamp with "DEB" on it with a poor quality X over it.

 

[volbound1700]

My stand on divorce is not rooted in religion. I’m simply not a quitter.

My wife says she doesn't believe in divorce. Granted she bases it on religion.