you ain't kidding. hamburger (only) was $13, a big one but still. breakfast sandwich (sizable), $10. and these were local joints in a small townCalifornia is special
What the heck happened to prices ?
- Thread starter mikester
- Start date
I couldn't go there. My mere presence is against 6 state laws.
I'm right there with you, I purchased a couple vehicles from CA and had the wonderful experience of getting calls from my hauler that they were unable to enter CA because of their Diesel trucks, so they had to broker out getting my vehicles to the border where they could meet up and of course this cost more $ and time, states just regulated to death
Shortage of people that are willing to work in low pay physically demanding factory jobs & high labor demand pushing wages up (materials are more expensive)
Factories are increasingly automated and the intelligence bar is inching up to be able to succeed, you can't be a 'grunt' in a lot of these jobs, you have to know how to work with computer systems
Increased social programs mean people that physically can't work don't have to (not always a bad thing) but it still impacts
Long history of society devaluating skilled labor and people not going into plumbing, electrician
IMO the general population generally has less skill or just want to 'pay someone' to do things around the house.
Increased regulations and codes mean it's hard to build your own house. It wasn't uncommon to build a house from the ground up yourself 75-100yrs ago. Now, forget about it.
Housing size & features have creeped upwards making the entire house more $$$
Factories are increasingly automated and the intelligence bar is inching up to be able to succeed, you can't be a 'grunt' in a lot of these jobs, you have to know how to work with computer systems
Increased social programs mean people that physically can't work don't have to (not always a bad thing) but it still impacts
Long history of society devaluating skilled labor and people not going into plumbing, electrician
IMO the general population generally has less skill or just want to 'pay someone' to do things around the house.
Increased regulations and codes mean it's hard to build your own house. It wasn't uncommon to build a house from the ground up yourself 75-100yrs ago. Now, forget about it.
Housing size & features have creeped upwards making the entire house more $$$
Everything you said is pretty much spot on. Especially the part about the general population having less skill. From what I can see just by having a 32 year old son the majority of kids his age are lost when it comes to being hands on. When I was his age I was already tearing into my old house. Working on vehicles. Lots of physical labor. I was hunting and shooting when I was 18. Sad to say but I doubt he can even read a tape measure. Forget using power equipment. Jeez, I was driving a farm tractor with a brush hog when I was 17. Its a different generation. Without all the electronics the younger generation would be lost. Its pretty sad.
Same. At 26 I renovated and flipped a house, my cousin and I did almost all the work. By then I had built 3 motors on my own, and was fixing everything myself, not just cars. Plumbing, electrical, carpentry, built my own kitchen cabinets....
And yet all the people I know that aren't capable of such things will listen to how google tells them to do something after asking me for advice, probably because my way sounds harder. That's fine, do it 3 times then pay someone, don't bother me none.
Yup we are the hands on generation. I've never done my house but helped buddies do all kinds of stuff to theirs. Anything with pistons in it I had my hands in and usually had it tore apart for mods. Done Transmissions, Rear Diffs, pretty much anything else with a car or anything mechanical with some wiring in there somewhere. I had an interest in it, and that's what it takes. You can't force someone into it because they won't want to put their mind in it, why I see mikester's position here.
I did 10 years in the military, four tours in Iraq, got out at 27 and went to college for my degree. That was my first exposure to the sh*t below me. Me coming out as an NCO and the training I had, to deal with people..
I did 10 years in the military, four tours in Iraq, got out at 27 and went to college for my degree. That was my first exposure to the sh*t below me. Me coming out as an NCO and the training I had, to deal with people..
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yes, but what is the reason the general population has less skill? In some cases it's not for lack of trying. consider my situation:
my father was born in 1931 in a rural farmhouse in Missouri. after a few moves living and working in rural areas, hunting, farming, he grad'd from high school in Davenport IA and went to college, the first in his family. he joined the USAF, became a pilot, and then kept moving up. I grew up in the military overseas. I never got to do any of the stuff he did growing up, neither did he take us, and I literally only ever met two people from his side of the family once or twice. I have no experience with living rural and having to be that self-sufficient. And he kept telling all 4 of us kids that we were all going to college (late 70s to 90s). we all went to college but in reality I should probably have been more blue collar career as I like working with my hands (the only 1 of 4 kids). I was in the Navy as an enlisted Machinists Mate, suited me fine.
As for having a working class career? wasn't going to happen, and being able to rebuild motors, cars, houses, etc, no money for that and no close family or friends able to help me with that. sure, I had a basic idea on how to do stuff but could never have afforded to do it on my own. so I've essentially learned by along the way by doing small projects. the Internet has been a tremendous help in learning otherwise I wouldn't be anywhere close to knowing the little that I do.
I'm 55 now and still picking up skill sets I should have had years ago. as for watching YT videos, I do that in addition to asking questions. why? because I can ask the knowledgeable person "the video said this. why?" . and that person will say "well yeah, it's obvious..." "uhhh, no it's not, that's why I asked. you're assuming I have the requisite background knowledge where it makes it obvious"
Also many employers want ridiculously high standards for even entry level jobs like a masters degree and 20 years experience for low paying jobs. While at the same time CEOs and other executives keep getting insane raises every year.
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