I am being absolutely serious here with the Weimar Republic comparison. Because people are fucking miserable and it’s fucking terrifying.
A hundred years ago, broke people in big cities would go to fascist rallies because they were free, and because sometimes the organizers gave out free food and beer, and because people had nothing better to do.
And they stayed because hate feels good when you’re hurting and simple violent solutions appeal to the angry monkey parts of our brains.
And the fewer community connections you have - the more the economy strips your life down to work and sleep, or to job hunting and sleep, or to scrounging in the gutter to survive and sleep, and the less you go out and socialize with actual human beings - the more appealing the fascist illusion of unity, of being part of a powerful group, becomes.
And the only difference today is that the fascist rallies are beamed directly into your home.
This is way more due to technology than the economy. It doesn’t cost money to have friends yet there’s a loneliness epidemic. The west is very rich compared to the rest of the world or all of recorded history.
That’s great. Yay. Why do I need 3 jobs to live here then?
Oh is it possibly because the prices are higher here too? And most of that wealth is held by a very few people?
It’s almost like you should also look at cost of living and purchasing power and work hours required to meet basic needs.
Do you need 3 jobs though?
If you can only get part time work, probably. In the UK here and never had money problems if I have had full time work, minimum wage is plenty if you have reliable full time work. Part time or irregular employment could be much harder though.
Yes. In the US if you’re part time you will need multiple jobs.
I’m talking about income relative to prices. The west has it better than everyone else now or ever before except recent history. I know complaining is fashionable but be real. You’re not a serf who can never afford meat or has to work 10 hours 6 days a week even if you do have 3 (part-time) jobs.
That’s such a braindead take. The wealthy are bleeding us dry and you’re response is “could be worse.” A handful of people hold the same amount of wealth as 50% of the poorest Americans, and that gap is only widening, it’s not getting smaller. This is a serious problem for everyone whose not extremely wealthy, and you’re over here acting like its not an issue. How’s that boot taste?
I didn’t say it’s not an issue, but we need perspective. Instead of complaining about the elbow poking us in the ribs right now how about we talk about the branch we’re sitting on breaking and the pit of lava below? Or why we are in this situation to begin with? Not just the elbow but everything else?
You’ve got it backwards though. We’re talking about the lava while you’re over here talking about elbows.
Some relatively minor and arguably temporary economic hardship that still leaves us at an advantage compared to almost anyone else doesn’t seem like a big deal compared to humans no longer being the dominant species and either going extinct or becoming slaves
Incredibly naive to think this is minor and temporary. The forces driving this are what is leading to us going extinct or becoming slaves.
It is observably relatively minor, as already explained. It is arguably temporary and definitely is temporary if we become extinct.
Except you do have to work 60 hours a week if you’re working class. And you’ll still need food aid.
Yeah, the U.S. isn’t falling below the world just falling back in line with it. A family with 1 income supporting a stay at home wife and 2 kids was never going to last forever.
Cool, but Dual Income No Kid couples are struggling. That’s not in line with the living standard in developing countries much less what people claim the west is like.
What? Everyone is struggling right now. I’m talking about in the 50’s and 60’s where 1 man working could afford a house, a stay at home wife, and 2 kids. The standard of living in general has been falling for the U.S.
Yeah I get that. You reached for the most egregious example possible. It hasn’t been true for 46 years but that didn’t stop you. the fact that DINK households are struggling at any level of the economy, right now, is a giant red flag. And the GDP or numbers on the paycheck don’t matter. You could get 10,000 dollars a month and if bread is 11,000 dollars a loaf, it doesn’t matter. And yeah, that’s an exaggeration because I’m not going to hold your hand through the COL calculations, minimum wages, and modal income ranges you can easily google.
Where have you been going to meet people that doesn’t cost money?
Not only that but it needs time. Time that coincides with friends times. If everyone is 9-5 and thats it then thats great, but everyone is working as many hours as they can.
The park? Take the bike to a lake? Idk where exactly you live
In the year 2026 where being a straight dude approaching people at the park will get you labelled a predator.
No what are you going on about? Nobody cares if you aren’t asking creepy questions or if you for example ask multiple women specifically. Be the creepiest man and ask some lady for a lighter, nobody cares. Be the creepiest homeless person and wish someone a good day, nobody gives a fuck.
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Local hackerspaces or makerspaces have open doors nights and try to be affordable overall. Sometimes even free. Libraries are great. Galleries and museums have free days. Protests and activist organisations are good way to be social and find meaningful life… Grassroots cultural spaces in general. Some cafes and bars have events that don’t require you to purchase anything. There are squats and other social spaces around the world
Don’t know if that helps, but I’ve known people before who didn’t know the place they were looking for already existed. Sometimes the places are hard to find, but they are there. There’s 8 billion of us and nobody wants to be alone.
Our local makerspace has shut down but when I looked before covid it cost more per month then than my allotment does per year now. Put seeds in some dirt, you even get food out of it. Availability might vary, there was a waiting list that took about half a year.
Work, social activities, churches, in the neighborhood, at the park. Really lots of places if you’re not trying to be a downer. Of course it was much easier before the internet however.