That’s the other crazy thing. Look at all the millionaire actors and music stars. They have much bigger incomes than past artists, but is Tom Hanks or Taylor Swift really that much richer than John Wayne or Marilyn Monroe? A doctor today is giving his family the life a moderately successful plumber had 50 years ago.
These historical comparisons always get me. Yeah, as a middle class American in 2024 I have a microwave and health insurance which does mean in some ways my life is “better” than Andrew Carnegie’s life 130 years ago. But he could just hire a huge staff for his mansion. He could buy whole libraries and gift them to cities.
Your comparisons of a modern doctor to Marilyn Monroe… Well a modern doctor is probably working 60 hours a week to get that $300,000 salary. Marilyn Monroe probably could have just… Retired while the doctor needs to work another couple decades to pay off student loans…
There’s no apple to apple comparison. Standard of living and expectations change. But you can’t just erase the simple pleasures of being famously rich because now microwaves exist.
Yeah and they are still bad comparisons. A doctor will command respect and prestige in their community in a way unfortunately a plumber will generally not. Inflation and technological advancements don’t really change that.
Your argument seems cousin to the Fox News type about microwaves and refrigerators. I don’t really think it makes sense to make these time traveling comparisons at all.
That’s the other crazy thing. Look at all the millionaire actors and music stars. They have much bigger incomes than past artists, but is Tom Hanks or Taylor Swift really that much richer than John Wayne or Marilyn Monroe? A doctor today is giving his family the life a moderately successful plumber had 50 years ago.
What is a doctor if not a body plumber?
Now you’re plumbing the depths in search of cuteness.
These historical comparisons always get me. Yeah, as a middle class American in 2024 I have a microwave and health insurance which does mean in some ways my life is “better” than Andrew Carnegie’s life 130 years ago. But he could just hire a huge staff for his mansion. He could buy whole libraries and gift them to cities.
Your comparisons of a modern doctor to Marilyn Monroe… Well a modern doctor is probably working 60 hours a week to get that $300,000 salary. Marilyn Monroe probably could have just… Retired while the doctor needs to work another couple decades to pay off student loans…
There’s no apple to apple comparison. Standard of living and expectations change. But you can’t just erase the simple pleasures of being famously rich because now microwaves exist.
I compared Monroe to Taylor Swift.
I compared the doctor to a plumber.
Yeah and they are still bad comparisons. A doctor will command respect and prestige in their community in a way unfortunately a plumber will generally not. Inflation and technological advancements don’t really change that.
Your argument seems cousin to the Fox News type about microwaves and refrigerators. I don’t really think it makes sense to make these time traveling comparisons at all.
Where did I talk about the plumber being as respected as the doctor?