He didn’t have TV or radio, phonograph records were scratchy tinny-sounding things and movies were black-and-white silent things that most people didn’t bother with due to their limitations. He couldn’t get his bulbous schnoz fixed or his cataracts done and to communicate with someone more than a few miles away he had to send a wire and wait for the reply. Automobile travel was slow and involved wrapping himself up with travel rugs and heavy clothes. Trains were less slow and his private yacht would be more luxurious than most of us could afford even now.
My own modest existence is probably a better life than the vast majority of humankind past or present has ever experienced, and I’m quite content enough with that. I feel no need to regret I’m not a robber baron or some other type of billionaire.
No.
My girlfriend and I took a trip up to Newport, RI this year. During our trip we toured The Breakers, the old summer home of the Vanderbilts. You go on vacation each year. Every summer they move their entire family from their massive Manhattan home to this house, which is basically a small grand hotel.
One thing though, they did seem to live a very rigid and structured life. And they didn’t have a lot of privacy with a staff of like 50 people around all the time.
The lower middle-class guy in 2011 has it much better.
He can afford an iphone, ipod, big screen TV, laptop, etc.
If he decides he wants to chat with his cousin or high school buddy he can do it today.
He can watch sports or movies or TV shows 24 hours a day.
Speaking of ethnic food, if he lives in or near a medium sized city, he can get a lot more of it than J. P. Morgan ever dreamed of. And, as mentioned before, he can get all sorts of foods at the local markets that weren’t always available.
He can travel quickly and easily.
And of course, the medicine. Aspirin or ibuprofin for a few cents a pill. And since the OP has good medical care, if he needs a hip or knee replacement that’s pretty good that it’s available.
Actually, there’s a book called Myths of Rich and Poor, by Michael Cox and Richard Alm, that came out about ten years ago and deals with this topic. I haven’t heard of an updated version of it, but it’s still timely enough.
I’m sure JP could have just taken a hip from some Chinaman if he wanted.:eek: