patrick.net

That’s your yardstick for…?

People knew how to cook, clean, fix cars and appliances, do minor plumbing and electric. This was how they practiced fine motor skills, not playing fucking xbox or playstation.

"Get off my lawn!"

Don’t most people have roommates in their early 20’s? Seems like a red herring issue.

The price increases are real, though. Rent here was $800/mo in 2012 for a 2 br/ba. By 2020, the same unit was $2200/mo. Wages did not increase 3-fold over the same 8-yr period. Investment groups have been buying up even the crappiest trailer parks (with zero APR fed money), then renting above market for regular units. They make the difference with govt-assured money for sec 8 and immigrant housing.

Factor in $1000/mo for insurance if you’re not state or corporate employed. DEI hiring blockades for the wrong groups. Unusual increases in budget foods like soup, mac, and so on (because of EBT expansion). Repaying 80k college debt only to be elbowed out by phony degrees and nepotism in H1B. I do not envy kids starting out now.

Take this issue seriously, solve it, and Republicans win the youth vote for the foreseeable future. Dems offer nothing but lies (“affordable housing” while stuffing the country with 12M) and mea culpa for whites.

First job in SV was almost 80k (for 2000 a dream salary) and I had 5 roommates. We did go out a bit but meal delivery fuck no. Pansies!

Just put corporate tax rates back where they were in 1980 (46%) instead of the 21% they are today.

That'll drop stock prices 50-75%. Give the youth the same investment opportunities as the Boomers had.

Real estate prices would grenade as a result as, as well.

South Florida was a seasonal market. So Summer through Autumn rent was cheap. Many efficiencies, and one br apartments.
But yes, when I was in my 20's, every peer I knew had their own place. But we also didn't have to compete with third world foreigners imported by Soros and Democrats trying to replace us, and convince us that our $200+ a day tradesman job, was a job that we didn't really want and should give it to illegal invaders instead.
I was doing carpet, getting $2.25 a yard. The average job was 70 to 100 yards. I was done by 4:30 then went to happy hour and stayed until closing time. Got up and did it again the next day. Now I'm worthless the next day after only 4 beers the night before.

I remember LA. Cost of living was low, part time work afforded basics. There wasn’t horde of illegals on every job. People cared about America a lot more. Opportunities were everywhere. Now everything goes to illegals and overseas.

Want to run a business today and not hire illegals, you are at massive disadvantage. It’s stupid what everything became.

It’s opposite now from what it was. Costs are high, illegals everywhere, homelessness, and corruption skyrocketed, opportunities are not there.

Don't forget, Corporations are people now. Think about that.

FortWayne's gif here is pretty accurate.
https://patrick.net/post/1386345/2025-12-22-1970-to-2000

I remember a kid was hit by a car and died in school in the mid 80s. Homework as usual, brief mention on the PA in the morning, moment of silence, the rest of the day went as normal.

And of course the Challenger thing where we watched the Teacher blown up in real time. Still had homework. No Grief Counselors to be seen.