Don't Make it Harder - Vox Popoli
At least, not any harder than it’s going to be. Karl Denninger, a genuine American hero who saved more lives than anyone else I’ve ever known, warns those under 40 that they’ve never seen the sort of economic challenges that are heading their way: You’ve n...
I often wonder so many of the ones that scream that everything is so awful have ever actually had it bad. The things I read never sound like actual poor people, just ones that perceive the world has come to an end for them because the delusions of riches they were promised aren't going to come true. Maybe it just the last 15 years of my life watching just how spoiled all the kids seem. They complain now because they grew up expecting a new toy every time they went to the store, a plethora of streaming services for music and video they've always had whenever they wanted, eating out possibly every day and getting what they want instead of having to deal with whatever mystery casserole was put on the table. These are the ones in the screeching media who grew up and just can't realize that when times get tough, all this shit you expect is just another luxury item.
Why is it wrong to be upset that your standard of living is declining? Especially when so many policy decisions were made with the promise of it increasing? Are people expected to be stoic while they're being told "You fucked up! You trusted us!"
This same argument gets used to justify limitless immigration from the third world. "Oh these Americans are too good to work in a field picking fruit for $2/hour! That's why we need to bring in Miguel! He's used to living in a cardboard shack and won't complain!"
I freely admit I've never lived in some third-world favela or on a literal mound of garbage as some do. I don't think that should disqualify me from noticing (eg.) that gas is a lot more expensive than it used to be. Yes it's still cheap compared to in Europe: I've heard that my entire fucking life. Maybe I don't live in fucking Europe and don't care how much gas costs in fucking Europe.
There's nothing wrong with that. The ones that piss me off are the ones that expect their standard of living to maintain or increase with at best worthless effort on their part. Then when it doesn't happen they scream for the government to give it to them. They can't wait for the communism so they can just enjoy their free shit while relaxing and working on their art, but only when they feel like it. If someone won't contribute enough value that others even want their services, then they can piss off and I don't give a shit if their standard of living declines to a soggy cardboard box.
I'm also not much into the doomer blackpill attitude anyway. I don't want to live my life agitated all the time. Do the best I can to notice and improve things, sure. Give up, throw in the towel, and live out the rest of my life in the shittiest and most disgruntled way possible because it's all hopeless anyway? No.
I agree.
Modern standards, even for the poor, are luxurious by any historical standard. We are awash in luxuries that Pharaohs would have waged brutal war to obtain. Even the least of us is fat and entertained in a manner the Roman mob would have sanctioned infinite abuse to maintain.
When the soap drops and there's not a drop of lube in sight, reality will hit us so hard and fast that we will pine for the days these first world problems dominated our discourse.
You won't know how good you have it 'til it's gone.
It's sad though that working hard towards common goals, building comradeship and friendships while you do, being pleasantly exhausted, and coming home to a fresh, clean house with a loving and obedient woman - these things will never be experienced by zoomers.
but they have netflix and 50x calorie multiplier goyslop made from industrial lubricants and processed corn.
50x calorie multiplier?
Since calories are a unit of heat, that sounds like it violates the laws of thermodynamics.
Imagine bringing Ramses II to a Walmart and watching his reaction.
iMO nobody living in America who doesn't remember the Great Depression has had it bad.
Vox Day echoes a warning that real bad times are likely in the works. He warns not to make poor choices economically, because if/when things go south in a big way, the bear markets will eat you alive.
I generally appreciate his perspective, and hope that forwarding this warning along helps someone.
(I know this is largely preaching to the choir, but hey, warnings still need saying.)
Eh if you kept a job in the late 70s / early 80s and paid off your house you did great. With 13% interest, the resulting house prices you could afford to take a 15 yr loan on and pay it off.
I'm not saying it's great. I'm saying there are people who do well in every time period. It may just be harder to do. The people who drive the business cycle certainly profit on both ends.
My grandparents built their house in ~1950. They sold it 1990 for I think $70k, and they thought they got a great price for it.
It sold again in 2004 for ~$200k. Wow, that’s a big increase in less than 15 years!
House most recently sold in 2021 for $550k.
Today, the zillow estimate is just shy of $700k.
This is a 75 year old house, ~1500 sq ft, 3 bed, 2.5 bath. Less than half an acre, nice neighborhood, good location, etc., but still, it’s just nuts.
Despite most wokies and people in general being spoiled and monetarily retarded, there is a significant issue with inflation, wage stagnation, property values and all of that mixed together making sure that those who do well now have far less to show for it than those who did well back in the day.
Like, its still possible to buy a house now in most areas of the country. But it'll be less impressive, take a larger percentage of your income, and likely take a lot longer to pay off if you ever do.
Of course there's a significant economic issue at play here. That they caused.
Right, their solutions and attempts to work on it are making it actively worse.
I just want to encourage people not to fall into the trap of "wokies think its bad, so that means there is no problem whatsoever."
That's how you end up with Thin Blue Line folks supporting the cops as they stomp on our faces.
Well in this instance it's largely about attributing causes and allocating solutions. They want to make things worse, some of them from stupidity and others from malice.
boomer wealth is tied up in their house, on average. they refinance regularly. any dip in home values means big pain for someone who has taken equity loans out against their home value to live the high life.
so, home prices will not substantially decrease until the boomers finish dying. if a zoomer wants a house they are just going to have to wait around. and it might not come, as we are importing limitless invaders both "legally" and illegally while tightening zoning control and restricting building (thru environmental legislation, local city and county commissions, water rights laws etc)
Well yeah housing prices are imaginary at this point. Only ppl with imaginarymoney can find one
The housing market is insane as is the rental market. Doesn't help that everything being built nowadays is a McMansion with no yard. When I was still looking for a home I was actively looking for an 80s style house with an 80s style yard. They don't appear to build those anymore, at least not in big enough numbers to matter.
I remember my parents talking about buying the house they lived in when I was born in the early 80s for 30k. Yeah, it was a shanty by modern standards but I clearly haven't frozen or starved to death so it must have done it's job. My mom always talked so great about the neighbors and such too. I barely remember it we moved around when I started school. I think I've heard my Dad made something like 20k or 25k salary at the time. Totally do-able for a functional house even with crazy interest.
Yep my buddy at work said he paid 70 in Arizona. He must live in a mansion.
He was a sales guy so I have no idea how much he made. He told me he paid off the house.