Is the American Dream dead?

[Rogar]

Yes, I suppose even in the sixties, a single parent would have to use some imagination or have a little supplemental income to make ends meet on a minimum wage. It seems like a family taking a boarder or renting a room was much more common then. Elizabeth Warren is an interesting lady that I know little about. She is at least one politician who struggled financially to make a go of it and a champion of the middle class. I did a very quick internet check and she is listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by someone's account. I may have to check out her book to see what her story is.

[Spartana]

I'm a big fan of Elizabeth Warren myself - at least back during the financial debacle. I'd personally think she'd be a much better fit as Pres then Hillary or many other democratic candidates out there. Seems very down to earth and sensible. I was trying to look up minimum wages in Calif for the time period my Mom went back to work (early 1970's - maybe '73) and it looks like it was around $1.60/hour compared to todays $10/hour. Rent and food was much less then of course but gas was higher when compared to todays dollar value (oh I remember the gas shortages and lines in the '70's when my Mom tried to fill up her car) and interest rates were very high - over 10% and an unemployment rate to match. Pretty tough times for the working class minimum wage earner. Most who did work minimum wage also did things like shared housing or did without cars, etc... otherwise they wouldn't have been able to get by. But today it seems to me that people who work minimum wage jobs expect to live a more middle class lifestyle then people in the past - and those with middle class incomes expect to live like the rich.

[Rogar]

....But today it seems to me that people who work minimum wage jobs expect to live a more middle class lifestyle then people in the past - and those with middle class incomes expect to live like the rich.

That's pretty much my impression.

I guess I'll have to read the book to find out if and how Warren's mother supported a family on minimum wage. I can remember a lot of the things we talk about on the simple living forums being much more common place. Gardening and canning, taking a renter, and walking and using the bus. Even in my middle class youth things like dishwashers, disposals, and even clothes dryers were luxuries. Not to mention cable TV, internet access and computers, microwaves, cell phones and especially Master Charge But it's hard to compare the two eras as I'm sure there are many basic things now that are relatively cheaper.