Or have lower class families been buying plastic to increase the appearance of their quality of life for 6+ generations?
I get that we're going through mega-inflation since covid. Even before that, if you bought whole foods and clothes that aren't plastic (nylon), the ol' paycheck only stretched so far.
I'd really like to pick the brain of a self-aware Boomer and find out how long it's been like this.
Before all the insanity, I would have argued that Middle class was expanding. I knew tons of people who lived in poor neighborhoods and had nice modern stuff. They could afford it as well. They bought modest homes, filled them, and lived happy lives. The riots went after those homes and neighborhoods.