>>Pay is lower now than it was in 1968????

>>In 1968 I could hire a topnotch programmer for $50K. I won't even guess what a programmer of that quality would cost today, if you could find one.
>>In 1968 a good caddy on a golf course got about $20/bag. If you can get one now, you have to pay $100/bag.
>>Have you hired a plumber lately?

What straw man pretended anybody is denying inflation? Meanwhile the Interweb is overflowing with hard evidence that medical, education and housing costs- amongst others- have inflated way faster than wages.

Which is why many wives feel obliged to work these days. Even the humble apartment you remember so nostalgically would cost a much larger chunk of many pay packets. Were I a struggling youngster, I think I'd resent "let them eat cake" references to the days when wives could choose to stay at home and prepare sumptuous meals rather than getting home at 18:30h hoping husband will carry some of the load. Talk about choice. Talk about privilege!

if I were an immigrant whose own grandparents don't receive Medicare or hold assets that have appreciated marvelously, I'd be looking closely at the costs being dumped on me- including Medicare for others' grandparents, just quietly.

When you consider the first wave of upcoming politicians like Ocasio-Cortez described as the new face of the Democrat party, seems to me there ought to be more clamor to protect rather than throwing open the borders, and maybe a touch more understanding towards young families. And no, that does not mean I'm going soft: I abhor the behavior of many 1%ers and consider that helping youngsters believe in the social compact is a pragmatic response to a juggernaut about to sweep away all the assumptions of those who think all Americans are equal, but some Americans are more equal than others.