Democrats Want Change

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(07-17-2017, 12:06 AM)Nately120 Wrote: Er wait, are you saying the reason it takes both adult partners in a household being employed to make a living is because both partners in a household are willing to be employed? 

More or less?

By essentially doubling your working force, you will have less competitive wages, less opportunity, higher standards, etc. Employers know they could just get someone younger and cheaper. They know you know that, too. Now college degrees are needed for a lot of jobs that didn't need it in the past. ($20k+ per person) Two people working? You need two cars. Pay for twice the gas, pay for twice the insurance. Now you need a work wardrobe for both people, too. Nobody home while the two work? Childcare is expensive! Want a place where two or more people can live? Rent is set for two people working now. etc, etc, etc

(07-17-2017, 12:11 AM)GMDino Wrote: So two people working wasn't the result of the cost of living passing up families as wages stagnated, unions were gutted and wealth shifted to the top 1%? 

Weird.

Although I'll add my mother never worked outside of the home.  Sometimes my dad worked two jobs...but I guess that would throw that theory way out of whack.  

Weren't you the one who was so against anecdotal evidence? I also said it was a thing the entire country had to go back to doing, not just your single family experience. Hence why I put an "Lol" because it's so implausible to go back to. It's like banning guns in a city. Unless the world banned it together, it's not really going to properly work.

Two people working is a big part of what caused wages to stagnate because you essentially doubled your workforce without truly doubling your work demand. Go hire someone younger and cheaper, because there's so many of them now you can replace at will. Why give someone 20 years worth of raises when you can lay them off and hire a kid with a college degree, who is swimming in debt, and willing to work for much less?

(07-17-2017, 12:53 AM)Benton Wrote: Wage disparity is the biggest issue nobody is talking about. In the 1940s if both spouses were earning close to the same amount (as they are now), they would be very well off. Now, we've shifted what our workforce looks like and two people may not even be able to pay their bills off minimum wage.

In 1940 the average price of a new car was $800. Inflation-wise, $1 in 1940 is worth $17.50 today. 800 x 17.5 = 14,000. The average new car today does not cost $14,000.

The market will adapt to what people are capable and willing to pay. The whole demand angle of the market. Two people working being the common thing made it so people could afford to spend more money on things, so things in turn became more expensive because the folks selling things know you can afford it. Kayne West sold out instantly on $120 plain white t-shirts a couple years back. People will sell things for what they think they can get you to pay.

It becomes a bigger problem as two parent families become less and less of a common thing, because our market has now evolved around being primarily for two working parents... so a one parent family is now often in poverty. Not saying it's right, but I do believe it's traced back to it.