I'm going to be honest and likely argued with, but my standard of living has been falling for a long time. Even while my income has been steadily increasing.

I've been in a recession for the past 10 years. If you don't hold assets you've been in a recession/depression whatever. It's been miserable.

Meanwhile most of the physical services are getting worse. Healthcare, road conditions, housing, etc.

This isn't progress.

People have become obsessed with manipulating digits and symbols, rather than building a physical reality.