Forty years ago American college graduates (and many non-graduates) could look forward to acquiring a house and a car, a wife (ahem) and children -- on one salary.
A generation later, their analogues were lucky to afford an adequate apartment on two salaries. --CGE
Doug Henwood wrote:
> On Feb 26, 2008, at 1:36 PM, B. wrote:
>
>> Additionally, it seems like anxiety, and especially
>> stress, and the need for sedation/tranquilization
>> through either the use of benzodiazepenes, or alcohol,
>> etc., is increasing.
>
> People of all classes drink less now than 100 or 200 years ago.
>
>> A lot of this data seems to indicate the economy, as
>> it is, takes a massive toll on folks' mental well
>> being.
>
> Yeah. It'd be interesting to do an analysis of the political economy
> of depression. Why are so many people depressed? It seems endemic
> among young people now - but I don't remember anything like it when I
> was young. Is it the alienation of capitalist work and the emptiness
> of affluence, or is that just banal and obvious?
>
> Doug