I agree. There's a book I read about how the economy and inequality have been getting worse for the last 50 years in America. But we are only one part of the world, and in some ways, things have gotten better here, as well. I just hope we can make it through the Trump years, and turn things around.

Doesn't this just show that the system is at fault ? If more and mor people are so desperate to better themsleves they have to rsort to this rather than being able to manage it on their own ?

@Simon Yes and no . A part of the system, is still a matter of wage discrimination . Certain people , regardless of their work ethics , their education , their contribution , are paid lesser salaries for doing the same work as their co-workers . That , is very wrong .
Another part of it is greed , but not necessairely in the sense that we've been taught . "Normal ," has changed . In today's economy , what used to be considered , "rich," is now considered standard . When I was young , NO ONE owned a computer , next to NO ONE owned a movie camera , a family was lucky if there was one phone on a party line , with four other families . People took a bath once a week . Not all cars had a radio , and none of them had air conditioning or seat belts . You didn't hug your belongings to see which of them you would keep and which you would replace . You kept everything , because you never knew when or even if , you'd be able to replace it . Things got repaired instead of being thrown away and replaced . The soles on your shoes wore out , you'd go to the repair shop and they've replace the sole , shine the shoe , and it'd be good for another year . If you had older siblings or even cousins , the majority of your clothing was hand-me-downs .