Tv's ending up not being supported anymore after 2 years, leading to needing to buy a new one or rent a device to still get tv from your isp is absolute shit.
I haven't been able to buy decent work pants and or shoes for the past 5 years, i remember my first work boots lasting me 11 years and costing €40. My most recent ones were similar in material make up and cost €170, but they looked worn after 2 weeks. I used to buy work pants for €60 and they would last literal years upon years. My last pairs of pants (3 combined) were €80 a piece on discount and were worn beyond repair within a year...all 3 pairs.
To think i pay more than double the rent, income is up only €60 a month compared to then.
There is a lot that has gone backwards.
Having to look 3 times to cross the street on a green because the world is filled by people in cars not paying attention anymore and i get into near collisions 4/5 times a week is also absolutely insane. It feels like i'm the only person that understands traffic lights xD
Tbh i find it hard to think of positives about everything that has changed...
My energy bill is going up significantly because our government has decided we now (as a result of ev's) are using too much electricity. I don't own a car, any car for that matter as i can't afford one...but now i'm punished for my neighbours big fat fancy ev.
Our energy usage (2 people) is far below the 1 person average and we are now being punished for it?
Health insurance (legally required over here) is also going up significantly, we can't even find a doctor as they are all at their limit and don't take on new patients.
This really needs to stop.
So eh..good things...good things..hmm, can someone help me out a little?
Western Europe, 1950s era. Capitalism had to make compromises. The soviet union was right next door - if people realized that seizing the means of production would improve their quality of life, they'd have a communist revolution on their hands. So concessions were made. "See, you don't need communism to have a good life, we're giving you all those things too!"
And finally, the capitalists won and the soviet union was no more, parceled up and sold to the capital owners in the west. Now they don't feel the need to make concessions without a major communist power in their backyard. So they roll back the progress slowly, hoping no one notices.
Personally I take on because and I take offense that you would suggest that it's entirely a manufactured issue created by the capital class to keep us fighting each other instead of them. Even suggesting it just serves the purpose of !
(not to imply that culture war bullshit doesn't have real world consequences, that's why the capital class picks these topics as wedge issues)
Library services are more accessible than ever due to increased internet connectivity. As a child, I checked out my limit of books at the library every week and always finished before the week was up. Now I can sit on my couch at home and return books as I finish and immediately check out new ones.