Paul "Nostradamus" Krugman Nailed it Eight Years Ago. It's NOT The Economy, Stupid.

[yardwork]

12. The problem is that wages are too low.

I am so sorry that you're facing all this. I see it with my three sons as well.

The price hikes during COVID haven't helped, and housing is ridiculously expensive, but the big, big problem is that wages haven't kept up.

Also, corporations walked away from their social contracts. When I graduated from college in the early 80s, we were in a recession. My first job was waitressing at a hotel. I was guaranteed a 40 hour week, with the same hours every week. With benefits! I took the job because it included health insurance. Companies don't do that anymore.

Companies pay low wages with no fixed hours or benefits because they can get away with it. We needed a strong Democratic majority in Congress, a Democratic president, and a liberal majority in the Supreme Court to turn that around. We lost the chance in 2016.

I am sorry to say this, but I don't think it's going to change anytime soon. Trump and the Republicans will make it worse.

My advice to everyone is to try to get a higher paying job.