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November 15, 2011

“The sky has always been falling.”

If, in the Year of our Lord 2011, you really think things are worse, tell me which of the following items you'd like to give up:
The world's finest health care (our arguments, after all, are really only over how extravagant our care should be)?Your flat-screen tv? Well, how about your Blu-ray player? Or your smart-phone? Your personal computer? E-mail? iPad? Satellite radio? None of the above? How about surrendering a couple of older technologies then? Your microwave? Your air-conditioning? Or even your refrigerator (another post-WWII phenomenon for most working-class families in my world)? And how about downsizing to that company house or tiny tract home your parents or grandparents lived in? In my birth year, working families were lucky to have one car per household. Ready to give up your second or third vehicles? And how about your vacations? Did your ancestors spend a lot of time in Hawaii or Cabo San Lucas? Or Europe? Or even at the nearest beach? How many ski vacations did they take? Oh, I realize that not everyone is traveling first-class even now, but my point is that most of us have privileges unimaginable to the working stiffs not all that far back up the family tree. The closest thing my coal-mining ancestors got to a vacation was Sunday afternoon. -- Living in America's Golden Age

Posted by gerardvanderleun at November 15, 2011 8:02 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

Sweet. I choose my smartphone as 1) it's about to be shutoff any day now and 2) I don't have any of the other things. Well, maybe the healthcare. I hear they can't turn you away if it's life threatening. How do I have a computer, you ask? I have a buddy that lets me come by and use his, as well as his shower. Think my ancestor's will be proud of me for losing everything they worked for?

Posted by: Big Mo at November 15, 2011 6:10 PM

yes, Big Mo, they'll be proud so long as you don't lose your freedom. Got to fight.

Posted by: twolaneflash at November 16, 2011 6:48 AM

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