A View Askew Post With AI . . .
. . . Actual Intelligence?
It's very simple. You put in what you are thinking about or want to write about and within seconds it produces a paper that covers your ideas with facts and info that it has quickly researched. (No wonder it's so popular with college kids.)
For this test I thought I'd use a theory that I've been kicking around for a while; here’s the gist of what I put in:
In a nutshell, my theory is that over the past roughly 40 years, as we watched the middle class get whittled down, prices on most everything have been set more and more by those of us in upper income levels maybe the top 20% - okay, the bottom half of the top 20% - and some help from misguided from government policies. The result is the price of houses, cars, rent, education, restaurants – really most things that everybody needs - have gone "upscale" much faster than "middle class" incomes have.
For most of my life there were plenty of jobs, from crappy parttime ones for teenagers and college kids to decent paying factory jobs. Obviously, there were people who made more money, had nicer homes and cars and clothes but essentially most families had a place to live, clean clothes, food to eat - and a TV! It wasn't nirvana but people seemed to get along – with the understanding that they COULD get ahead with hard work and effort. You know, so-called "meritocracy."
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| 1980 Median priced home - $50,000 Median family income - $26,000 |
Disclaimer: This from a kid from in a distinctly "working class" white family in a small, all-white midwestern town (and I never lived in a house like this.)
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| 2023 median priced home - $350,000 Median in come - $74,380 |
More and more jobs are service industry - or stupid gig jobs - with relatively low pay and benefits, putting many of those important things out of reach for a lot of our hard working fellow Americans. At the same time, those of us that are financially comfortable have become used to taking our pricing power for granted. Is that starting to change?
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| 1980's beer - 3+ bucks/6 pack (Real man's beer) |
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| Today's Beer - 10 bucks/BEER! (Yeah I know better beer - blah blah blah) |
Demographics, climate change and societal upheaval seem to be forcing changes in the economy and causing all kinds to cost pressures. From fast food wages to lawn care to property taxes and homeowner insurance, it’s starting to bite for all of us.
It seems a lot of chickens are coming home to roost. Things that we have neglected for many years like highways, sewer and water lines, bridges, powerlines, airports – need trillions of dollars for updating. (And I haven’t even mentioned the trillion/year federal deficit we've been running for years or the $35 trillion in debt, most of which has kept the economy afloat.)
What think thee, Chat GPT?
So I put this into the magic machine and here is what Chat spit out in about 15 seconds.
(BTW you don't need to read every word to be impressed with it.)
Job Market Changes: The shift from manufacturing and industrial jobs to service-oriented and gig economy roles has created a scenario where many jobs pay less and offer fewer benefits. This shift has affected economic security for many working-class and middle-class families. Jobs that once provided a solid middle-class income and benefits have become scarcer or have been replaced by lower-paying service roles.
Price Inflation and Economic Access: As you've pointed out, prices for housing, education, healthcare, and other essentials have increased significantly, often outpacing wage growth. This has made it harder for many Americans to access these basic needs. The middle class’s diminishing purchasing power is a key factor here, as more wealth has concentrated at the top, allowing those with the most money to set higher prices.
Job Market Changes: The shift from manufacturing and industrial jobs to service-oriented and gig economy roles has created a scenario where many jobs pay less and offer fewer benefits. This shift has affected economic security for many working-class and middle-class families. Jobs that once provided a solid middle-class income and benefits have become scarcer or have been replaced by lower-paying service roles.
Meritocracy and Economic Realities: The idea of meritocracy—that hard work and talent should lead to success—has been increasingly challenged by the reality of economic disparities. While it remains a powerful motivator, the system often doesn't account for the structural barriers and unequal starting points many face.
Changing Economic Pressures: You're right that increasing costs are beginning to affect even those who have been relatively insulated from financial strain. As you mention, demographic changes, climate change, and other societal shifts are driving up costs and creating new economic pressures. This can lead to a broader realization of economic vulnerability among people who previously felt secure.
In summary, your reflections touch on a broader reality: the economic environment has indeed changed in ways that make it harder for many to maintain the same standard of living or upward mobility that previous generations experienced. This change is driven by a complex mix of factors, including economic policies, global trends, and structural changes in the job market and pricing dynamics. The sense of security and stability that once characterized American life is evolving, and it's important to recognize and address these shifts to better understand and navigate the current economic landscape.
I guess we should ask if it supports my theory.
The answer is maybe but I'm not so sure. Perhaps this has always been the way it works except now the gap between the classes is so much bigger. Or maybe there's more people in the lower income brackets so it's more glaring. I don't know but something is screwed up.
The more important question might be: can those folks move up without us moving down? (No answer from ChatGPT on that.) I guess we'll find out. Anyway that's my - and Chat's - theory. (You can get your own.)
If you're interested it's free, give it a try.
PS
I hope you don't like Chat more than me. (If so you're out of luck.)
(72 Days until the election)
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