Everyone is so focussed on how mental health is causing people to snap and do terrible things, and how undereducated people are being “dumb” and not putting forth best effort in the work place.
These people aren’t stupid, and they aren’t categorically mentally ill. In the past 20 years we’ve seen everyone in the bottom 80-90% of America lose over and over again. Everyones dollars just keep losing cents. Everything costs more and work isn’t keeping up with costs.
I’m a degreed software engineer from a top 25 engineering school with a pretty stellar job, yet I will be living with my parents for the next 4-5 years hoping the housing market doesnt out pace me. I recently just had to buy a new vehicle as well because the one I’ve been driving since i was 16 is finally done for. I don’t have frivolous expenses, i never spend more than $600 in a normal month. Yet this new vehicle (a modest mid sized pickup at mid level trim) will cost me more than my parents bought their house for in 1987. How that even remotely computes baffles me.
And this isnt a “pitty me” post, because i truly cannot comprehend how those worse off than me havent snapped and started absolute societal anarchy. I wouldnt even blame them if they did. I find myself depressed after long days with reward that just doesn’t seem to cut it.
How can this keep going on? When will it end? I just feel like theres no point anymore. Theres no more reward to life its just working to death while the rug slowly gets pulled out from under you.