- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Lower and Middle Class America has declined over the past 50 years
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:02 am to SlowFlowPro
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:02 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
Of course there are trade offs.
What are they?
1
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:03 am to Azkiger
The reason your house costs more today has very little if any correlation to import/export . On the car end, being for tariffs hurts your argument about affordability. It was cheaper and more reliable foreign imports that forced Detroit to innovate. It was a net plus for all car buying Americans.
Your house costs more to build because a starter home today is much larger than a starter home in the 50s, 60s or 70s. There is an argument that if you brought in more finished Canadian lumber you could reduce costs a bit. But trade is not why your house costs so much. Location and scarcity are the main culprits
Your house costs more to build because a starter home today is much larger than a starter home in the 50s, 60s or 70s. There is an argument that if you brought in more finished Canadian lumber you could reduce costs a bit. But trade is not why your house costs so much. Location and scarcity are the main culprits
This post was edited on 4/3/25 at 9:04 am
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:03 am to NC_Tigah
quote:There's nothign emotional about it.
I just don't get the emotional irrational anti-tariff schtick.
quote:Yes. But it's not because of too few tariffs.
We have a $37Trillion debt!
And we DESPERATELY need to address what happens when the US stops being the reserve currency. But tariffs are the opposite of what one should be doing. quote:
At some point, WE HAVE TO PAY our way.
What is a better way than targeting the previously untaxed trade deficit?
our trade deficit is $900 billion. Tax all of it and you're not close to balancing the budget, and that ignores the obvious inflationary effects on the debt service. quote:You're better than this.
You guys are arguing as if you're oblivious to the above realities.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:05 am to Azkiger
quote:
What are they?
The lowest end of the worker class has to adapt slightly into lightly skilled or skilled labor.
Supply chain disruptions abroad can create negative externalities domestically.
The benefits clearly outweigh the costs.
The biggest problems with an integrated world economy are the rising SOL of poor countries and the booming population due to lack of war.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:05 am to BCreed1
quote:
After all I am here. Now back to you...
I'm the one arguing for more free trade and less government.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:05 am to Azkiger
quote:*yawn*
"Americans having jobs is no different than illegal property damage."
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:06 am to InkStainedWretch
quote:
People are going to have to have some level of post-secondary training ... not college but at least a six-month certificate ... to get their foot in the door, and that door will be closed to anyone who can only offer a high school diploma, a strong back and a good work ethic.
Interesting. According to SFP a McDonald’s worker is more skilled.
It’s almost like he has no idea what he’s talking about
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:07 am to Azkiger
quote:
You think homes or cars are easier to afford today than decades ago?
We just had a 30 page thread where all the boomers bitched incessantly about how difficult it was to buy a home 50 years ago.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:09 am to texag7
quote:
Interesting. According to SFP a McDonald’s worker is more skilled.
He's talking about a completely different reality than the one we live in (which I am discussing)
McDonalds workers are being replaced by robots, too.
quote:
It’s almost like he has no idea what he’s talking about
If you just make shite up, you can say this about anyone.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:14 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
The lowest end of the worker class has to adapt slightly into lightly skilled or skilled labor.
Supply chain disruptions abroad can create negative externalities domestically.
Sounds like we need to ship more jobs overseas then, if these are the only tradeoffs.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:14 am to JohnnyKilroy
quote:
We just had a 30 page thread where all the boomers bitched incessantly about how difficult it was to buy a home 50 years ago.
People can bitch, but there is no arguing the purchasing power of the dollar has deceased over time.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:15 am to Azkiger
quote:
Sounds like we need to ship more jobs overseas then, if these are the only tradeoffs.
Emigration of the lower class to Mexico would help
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:16 am to texag7
Well I am not going to go there because I don’t like to get into s**t fests which is why I don’t often post on this board, along with a reluctance to discuss politics online because my own beliefs can’t be pigeonholed with simple labels.
But I am talking economics and industrial development and what is going on in manufacturing today is actually fascinating, especially in machining and robotics.
The problem again, as I noted, is that even if plants are built on every street corner it’s not going to be the salvation for lower and middle class workers that people in this thread are expecting. Beneficial to the country as a whole? Different story.
But I am talking economics and industrial development and what is going on in manufacturing today is actually fascinating, especially in machining and robotics.
The problem again, as I noted, is that even if plants are built on every street corner it’s not going to be the salvation for lower and middle class workers that people in this thread are expecting. Beneficial to the country as a whole? Different story.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:16 am to Azkiger
quote:
People can bitch, but there is no arguing the purchasing power of the dollar has deceased over time.
Compared to which other currency?
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:17 am to KiwiHead
quote:
Your house costs more to build because a starter home today is much larger than a starter home in the 50s, 60s or 70s.
Perhaps I'm wrong, but the lower/middle classes complaints about home affordability isn't purely aimed at new construction. They're arguing they can't afford homes period, not big, new homes.
One would assume they'd leave their apartments to live in an older, smaller, home but that's even out of reach.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:18 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
Compared to which other currency?
Was the OP making comparisons or pointing out trends?
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:18 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:Appreantly we need a strong dollar AND no trade deficit.
Compared to which other currency?
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:19 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:Negative.
That is a different discussion than that tariff one.
If you want to discuss tariffs in isolated hypothetical economics, have that discussion with yourself.
In the real world, the US needs to get our budget under control. Under control means we are now in a situation where interest on the debt costs us ~39% more in Mandatory Spending than we would otherwise have to pay. Interest on the US debt is on track to overtake all US discretionary spending COMBINED! It simply is not a sustainable situation.
Meanwhile we have foreign companies contributing employee income and corporate taxes to their home countries. They then export untaxed (before tariffs) goods here, in some cases undercutting US industry. US industry shrinks, shedding employee income and corporate taxes which might otherwise contribute revenue to Uncle Sam.
Rinse and repeat.
Again, none of this occurs in a vacuum. If we cut every penny of last year's discretionary spending, we'd still run a deficit this year. So taxes must be a component. How would you suggest we raise them?
This post was edited on 4/3/25 at 9:21 am
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:19 am to Azkiger
I agree. It’s way harder for the people coming up these days vs the environment 50 years ago. Easy mode back then by comparison.
Posted on 4/3/25 at 9:20 am to KiwiHead
quote:
Your house costs more to build because a starter home today is much larger than a starter home in the 50s, 60s or 70s.
Nope this isn’t logical because the average price per sf is much higher now.
Being “bigger” is not even a thing. Like at all
Page 8 of 18
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News