Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by AlimJaffer 2870 days ago
It's less politics, and more to do with empathy for the common man. Mental illness is at an all-time high, wages are low, poverty is incredibly visible, and based off of postings on Reddit, Facebook, etc. there's a general attitude of being despondent due to the current economic and political climate. Something has to change, and it can only really start at the top - with government taking care of its citizens rather than constantly destroying the few social safety nets left.
1 comments

based off of postings on Reddit, Facebook, etc. there's a general attitude of being despondent due to the current economic and political climate. Something has to change

Maybe spend less time on Reddit, Facebook, etc... Things probably aren't as bad as they look through the lens of social media.

The lens doesn’t change stagnant wages, health care and housing being out of reach, and income inequality.

Things are terrible, and putting your head in the sand does nothing but exacerbate the situation.

Employment is low, home ownership is increasing, healthcare is too expensive but still more accessible than it ever has been. Things can be better, but I'd say, gently, that you lack perspective. You are mirroring a story that you see online on TV and social media that is created to make you think things are terrible so you'll watch more tv and spend more time on social media. Stagnant wages aren't terrible, 25% unemployment was terrible. Stagflation was terrible. You think housing is tough now, try a home loan at 16% interest rate like in 1981/2. You think things are politically divisive now? Look at the violence and political assassinations in the 1960's. Look at the crime rate which has been declining for a two decades.
Unemployment is low, but the jobs at the lower end are still jobs that don’t pay a living wage. Credit card, auto loan, and student debt defaults are rapidly rising. Home prices have accelerated away from incomes that can support them.

While I appreciate your view on my perspective, it comes from careful analysis of macroeconomic data, as well as discussing the issues with citizens who would eventually be my constituents when I run in the next election cycle.

That is a lens. Wages are increasing, lots of people do have healthcare, and homeownership is increasing.