How the American Dream Became a Nightmare

How old are you? I'm closer to 70 than 65 any more, but I do see some resemblance to the 1970's when so many young people had to face the fact that no matter how much they worked, they weren't going to get ahead.

This is when the American dream of owning a home was killed for me.

And millions of others for whom it never came back into reach.

I can't say it didn't bother me.

But if I did say it didn't bother me there would be those who believe that was why I went ahead and worked more hours than most. Plenty of overtime and 12-hour days, right alongside other employees who didn't want to work that much, but I always figured that was par for the course. I didn't let that bother me and I think it was more harmonious because people knew I was not trying to get ahead of them, only trying to regain what I would have had if the recession had not gotten so much worse.

It's nothing new at all. I knew earlier than most that I would never be able to afford to live in my own hometown as a breadwinner without some extraordinary windfall.

I wouldn't be surprised if ambition for other things in life besides "money that doesn't buy anything anymore" has "crept" into retail at the $40 level this quickly.

I wouldn't have expected it yet, but I take your expertise at face value.

Add it to the growing pile of negative economic datapoints :(