Rocket

No doubt that our boys are GREAT Americans. I frickin love it!!

I'm not sure if you're referring to me here, but I'm significantly more concerned for the poorest third of the country than the middle third, although I do think the gap between the top 10% and the rest of us will continue to grow.

Sultan --

Apologies in advance if this is scattered as I haven't had time to organize my thoughts, but when I said rewards, I meant I don't believe we're benefitting nearly as much when making "smart" choices.

The average college graduate starting salary has increased about 37% since 2000 according to the National Center for Education Statistics. A 75th percentile salary was 72K in 2000 and 95K in 2023, an increase of 31%. Over that same time period, cost of living is up 70%. In the same timeframe, tuition costs are up 65%. Rent is up 73%. Mortgage rates are about the same, but property values are much higher. Which is great when you already have had property but much worse for first time homebuyers with higher debt to income ratios than we've seen in the past. These aren't small costs and when you think of what that means in terms of monthly expenses and revenues, it becomes very difficult to accumulate wealth at the same pace as past generations.

A higher percentage of college graduates are working as consultants instead of as full time employees. This isn't by choice. Corporations are offering less and less full time positions as they look to save money. So in addition to salaries not keeping up with inflation, people now have to pay more for healthcare, other benefits, and get less time off. A similar percentage of the workforce is earning minimum wage as 20 years ago, but the minimum wage hasn't increased or has barely increased in most places.

Major costs are all rising significantly faster than incomes. We're expected to cover a higher percentage of those costs, as corporations cover less. After the same expenses, we are seeing a much smaller percentage of our income than previous generations. And unless something changes drastically, the next generation will see an even smaller percentage of their incomes. The stock market is doing well, but we're able to put a lower and lower percentage of our money into it, making wealth accumulation more difficult. And that's not even to get into the significantly harsher challenges that the poorest third of the country have to face but aren't part of my reality.

And again, I'm not trying to complain. I'm sure there are positive strides we've made that I'm unaware of. I need to continue to become more educated on this topic. The reality is the reality and we need to individually and collectively find a way to navigate it. But in my opinion, too many people are denying the reality. Individually, we can still find ways to succeed. Collectively, it looks bleaker and bleaker with each passing year, and it will only become a bigger problem unless we all acknowledge it.

I'll try to expand on my positions later.

EDIT: Completely agree with Hards on trades professions. That's one area where there is a lot more opportunity than in the past.

EDIT 2: I enjoyed this Ted Talk if anyone has time to spend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEJ4hkpQW8E

Rocket

My bad. My kids lived on campus, but after they graduated. They came home for one reason, to save money. As I mentioned, I hope that every scooper can help their kids in the same manner.

You did good, Rocket!!!

When the non sports media get ahold of the proportion the "rich" schools are paying, this will not be a PR disaster?