From: "dapperdobbs" 
Newsgroups: misc.invest.financial-plan
Subject: Re: Standard of Living
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 20:49:51 -0500
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Elizabeth Richardson wrote:
> > Our standard of living is many times higher, materially, than that of
> > our parents and grandparents,
>
> > How come so many of us "don't have enough money"?
>
>
> Because we have a much higher standard of living.
>
> Elizabeth Richardson

That's what I concluded.

In college in the 1970's I was fortunate enough to take an elective
"The Sociology of Sciences", taught by a Jesuit Father John
Staudenmeir. It's a very demanding field. He began with how the
technology of canal building and later railroads led to transformations
in the society. Another focus was the advent of interchangeable parts
(the screws on guns were amongst the first interchangeable parts). We
had to be precise: who developed the technology, when, and where. I'd
be shot for not stating the date of construction of the first canal in
England in the 1700's, and the date of the first railroad in the
1800's. Elective ... "gut course" ... yeah ... sure .... The guy taught
it with surpassing excellence and enthusiasm.

Concurrent with advances in product technology, we have advances in
production and distribution, that lower the costs of our technological
marvels. And (as John Cowart pointed out) our education levels are
higher - which raises the costs. It's very interesting and spot-on that
posts addressed housing, immediately. As a recent thread highlights,
housing is about 33% of the cost of living. And real estate prices are
for sure a hot topic, considering the last five years and, in reference
to the L.A. of the post WW II period, the beautiful specific example
you gave us.

There are many interrelated factors, and Staudenmeir would say, "You're
going too big! Stay specific! Why don't you try the developments in
housing ... at least you have a chance, there!" (The invention of
elevators, for example, made skyscrapers convenient.)

But as Elle mentioned, we have sources of discomfort in planning. And I
confess, it crossed my mind that our material wealth may be
astronomically higher than that of a short 50 years ago ... but are we
more comfortable?  And the reason I opened the topic was to perhaps
take a look at current "personal life-style" - to perhaps deploy the
resources we have more efficiently to bring about the happiness we
maintain our freedom to pursue.

Some areas of society (such as the production and management of our
coin and currency) are technological marvels. Some perhaps need more
attention. Overall, I think it is indeed a wonder that things run as
smoothly as they do, given the extraordinary complexities that evolve
on a daily basis, and that is a tribute to ourselves. We should be
proud!