[TheOtherHobbes]

Yes and no. Big wins include the fact that smoking isn't everywhere the way it used to be, gay marriage and rights, more freedom for women, and generally lower costs for essential - albeit with some serious downsides for those involved in making and distributing them.

Losses include much less economic headroom for everyone who isn't upper middle class or higher, with a fair percentage of the population falling out at the low end, much more homelessness, and a cutthroat nickel and dime everything neoliberal culture in business. So while computers and cars are cheaper, health care and college expenses are much higher.

There was still some lingering benign paternalism in business in the 80s and especially the 70s, but that's much rarer now.

And serious stressors like climate catastrophe are much more imminent.

[musicale]

> So while computers and cars are cheaper, health care and college expenses are much higher.

Technology, transportation, and food are cheaper.

Unfortunately major essentials such as housing, health care, and education are drastically more expensive.

Outside of cartels and rent-seekers, I can't imagine people saying "you know, we really need to make housing, health care, and education unaffordable for more people."

It's particularly disappointing that technology doesn't seem to have reduced the cost of health care or education - the cartels seem to have won by restricting supply and exploiting indirect payment systems.

[TedDoesntTalk]

That’s a good summary. One nit: are cars really cheaper now? I don’t get that impression. They are definitely more reliable, though, and last much longer.