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You ARE better off.

But you are also in the top 20%.

The bottom 80% are not as lucky as you. The bottom 80% cannot afford 2 cars, or a house, or cable, or an iPhone, etc.

Have some fucking perspective. You are doing well; but look around you. The rest of the country is NOT.

A tremendous part of the economy is out of work and cannot even afford to go to the doctor. You're living in a bubble.

I'm firmly in the middle in terms of household income. I was comparing myself to the middle income earner from 2 generations ago.

My point is that the vast majority of Americans have more material wealth than their equivalents did 50 years ago. Everyone has more.,

Also Cable penetration is close to 60% in America, so at least half of the bottom 80% can afford it.

Cable penetration should also be added to satellite penetration, since both serve (almost) the same purpose.