Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

In what way is prosperity going away?

Today, nearly everyone has pocket computers, cheap internet, longer lifespans, better healthcare, cars that last decades, homes with plumbing, electricity and climate control, etc.

Poverty has been declining for decades.

Your life looks much better than your parents, and looks much, much, much better than your grandparents.



The US has recently been reversing as many of the policies that created and maintained that prosperity as possible.


This is a capitalists hand wave and hides many issues and tries to halt any discussion. It’s a cliche at this point. Now talk about housing. Are we better off there? My parents had it pretty good. They have a pension and worked at a public corporation even. They get their health care covered in retirement. I don’t get anything guaranteed for my retirement. They paid 50K for their house that is worth at least 550K now. Have salaries kept up? We have cell phones so it’s all OK I guess, why are you all complaining? Go watch some Tik Toks and count your blessings.


It's well known that in the US people are doing much more poorly than their parents on average.

Except having what are essentially televisions in their pocket. That's the one win they get.


When someone says it's well known fact - it usually means there is no data to proof this statement.

Doing more poorly? but everyone has all kinds of home appliances, nice reliable cars with tons of features, more people have college degree, bigger houses, etc.


> Your life looks much better than your parents

In what way?

> and looks much, much, much better than your grandparents

I'm not so sure about that one, either—my grandparents had to go to war to kill the Nazis, and it's looking like we're going to have to do that again.


America's prosperity relative to its peers. America used to be a clear #1. Trump's policies seem designed to ensure that America will lose its place as #1 and let peers like China and Europe overtake it.




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: