Tractors are getting more costly every year

[WinterDeere]

My parents first refrigerator was $500.
Pa and Ma working brought home aboot $140 a week.

There you go! A refrigerator was 3.6 weeks salary! That'd be like the average professional today paying more than $10k for a damn refrigerator.

Of course, they did last a lot longer, back then.

 

[5030]

Televisions. For as much as six decades, the average "large" family room television had cost very roughly $700. But what you would get for $700 improved dramatically over that time, and the value of said $700 kept decreasing over time.

Yeah, I've paid double that for leading-edge TV's (e.g. 75" LED back in 2011), but the greater trend is the masses of 45" and 50" LED TV's that can now be had for $250 - $450... an amount most make in a single day. Your father probably had to save for weeks to buy a TV... for $700.

Computers are an even better example. I remember my father buying three computers in the mid-1980's, each close to $5k. Today, I buy $800 computers for my wife and kids, which work quite well for basic home chores. Even my high-end engineering workstations are under $10k... roughly $2k-$3k in mid-80's dollars, and these can do more calculations in a few seconds than my father's computers did in a full day.

Because they are all made in China or Taiwan today....

 

[WinterDeere]

Because they are all made in China or Taiwan today....

Yep. Which is one reason my head just about explodes, every time I hear someone whining about "made in China". We all live better today, on the sweat of cheap Chinese labor.

It creates a huge problem with defense hardware, as the same capabilities that allowed us to manufacture components for televisions and smart phones, are integral to our defense components. But focusing purely on the consumer side of things, "made in China" is damn near the best thing that has ever happened to everyone in this country... excepting the guy that previously made American televisions.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Maytag and Whirlpool have manufacturing in Mexico. Drove past them on the way to the hotel often

 

[masseyrider]

There you go! A refrigerator was 3.6 weeks salary! That'd be like the average professional today paying more than $10k for a damn refrigerator.

Of course, they did last a lot longer, back then.

You didn't mention it was used 6 months by the previous people before they defaulted on the payments.

 

[CalG]

Yep. Which is one reason my head just about explodes, every time I hear someone whining about "made in China". We all live better today, on the sweat of cheap Chinese labor.

It creates a huge problem with defense hardware, as the same capabilities that allowed us to manufacture components for televisions and smart phones, are integral to our defense components. But focusing purely on the consumer side of things, "made in China" is damn near the best thing that has ever happened to everyone in this country... excepting the guy that previously made American televisions.

One may asks: Does having all this "Made in China" STUFF, enhance the quality of life? bring happiness to families or well being to children?
I don't see it. Perhaps you do.

"True wealth is knowing when you have enough"
Quality is not moved by comfort nor convienience.