We actually had a better quality of life in this country before the Reagan Years.
The Republicans went from being nostalgic over a 50s that didn't exist to an 80s that didn't exist. Just when you thought the guys alive during the 50s were going to die off so we could live in the 21st century they dug up a crop of idiots who think the Reagan Years was America at it's peak. Back when the entire cabinet was going to jail and the only reason the President didn't join them was he claimed he didn't know anything.
Prior to Reagan we had Americans with more job security socking away extra money and going on vacations. There were good paying jobs in factories that didn't require even a High School education, you leaned on the job. I knew this one guy who was a lathe operator who had to quit school when he was 16 because his parents got divorced and all he did all day was pick up the part, insert in in the machine, close the lid and hit a button and then read a Hustler magazine until he heard the beep to let him know he had to take out the part and put in another one. It paid seven times minimum wage and he was in a union.
Every time the subject of jobs comes up the Democrats talk about education (mostly as a shout out to the teachers union). That makes those without an education feel like they are being left out. Imagine you are in your 50s and looking for work and hear them say you need to go to college. A lot of these people can't even pass a high school refresher course. When I was in High School the pocket calculator was invented and it was BANNED from our math classes. We had to do algebra in our head and write it longhand and show our work. To say that is "dated" is putting it mildly so telling these people they have to get an education to get a job when they had a job without one is a turn off. The Democrats need to talk to THOSE people.
Kucinich had a solution. Lower the retirement age to 50. Let them retire now if they wish and collect Social Security. This would free up the job market for younger workers. That was the effect when Social Security was first created. Before then, you worked your whole life so there were people in their 80s and 90s in the labor market. When those over 65 were allowed to retire it opened up positions for younger workers. He later raised that age suggestion to 55 and then 60 but when you have Republicans wanting to raise it to 70 or eliminate it altogether....
= new reply since forum marked as read
on his answer to this right wing mittwit nitwit
