Dealers lots are filling up

rjstractor wrote:

mkirsch wrote:
Our means have not kept pace with the price of goods and services, even if you don't consider recent events.

Work harder, get a better job, right? You need to be pulling in a 6-figure income to have the buying power of the average family in the 1950's. There are only so many middle management jobs out there.

You're not wrong about the cost of goods and services, but a young person doesn't need to be middle management or even have a college degree to make six figures, at least in my area. In my job I talk with lots of folks in the construction trades, mostly sprinkler fitters and fire alarm technicians, who are screaming for qualified apprentices. Once they make journeyman that six figures is a reality. Where they run into problems is finding people who are actually willing to show up every day, work hard, be eager to learn and get cold, dirty and uncomfortable once in a while.

When they make journeyman, sure. Correct me if I'm wrong but in most trades, getting to journeyman is a SEVEN YEAR MINIMUM commitment. During that time you work for minimum wage, or even for free, as an apprentice, sweeping floors and doing very little related to the trade, all while being treated like dirt.

Then you'll turn around and grouse about how young people need to be coddled and hand-held, right? It's not either-or. There is a middle ground between abusive and coddling. Don't give me "That's how I came up through," because times have changed. Obviously the old way doesn't work anymore because you're short on skilled workers.