RL Ranting

 Yeah, I perhaps got a little too <i>real</i> for my own tastes last night by delving into a short rant about the state of modern (USA, at least) society. I really do think a lot of people (especially older ones) don't grasp how far-fetched the "American Dream" has become. Being able to get a job that allows you to support a homemaking spouse, 1-2 kids, and a house with lovely white picket fense is exception more than the rule. Even as I was growing up, it felt like having both parents work became a requirement. And now my perception is that having more working young adults than bedrooms in a shared, rented apartment is approaching the <i>norm</i>.

I've held what seems like it should be a <i>decent</i> job with one company for over two decades and (with some other elements of good fortune) I'm just able to fend for myself. In no way do I feel financially able to support a partner, child, or even really a pet. I often think of myself as "middle class," but reality is that's only barely, if at all, true. I make right around what theoretically qualifies for "low income housing" in the area. And this is "getting by okay" in today's society.

In order for me to "move up" would require a great deal of motivation and ambition. It would probably require some risk-taking, a willingness to move somewhere else, and no small measure of actual good luck. Being willing and able to work full time is not remotely enough to do <i>well</i>. And at that, I'd say the bar for what is "doing well" has been lowered over the last few decades (at least) as well.

That's a frustrating and depressing malaise that lingers over much (probably "most" and approaching "all" statistically) of our society, but no one has a sure-fire answer, much less the ability to implement it. I thought the ACA might be a step in the right direction, but it was compromised to begin with and has been picked apart rather than improved. Maybe the nationwide push toward a $15/hour minimum wage could help, but I see pros and cons there - more educated people than I have argued both outcomes. If it did come to be, I actually wouldn't quite gain anything directly except more socioeconomic company. Woo! Not that it seems likely to come to be anytime soon anyway.

And that mess is just from societal/business factors. This year has shown how a single virus can disrupt things even more when the response to it is so inconsistent. And while things aren't very different for me save more mask wearing, the same is not true of so many others.

In many ways.. yeah, life kind of does suck.

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