However, lots of people no longer have just the dad working. Mum needs to work as well just to get by.
Total hours worked/capita fluctuates and is down a little bit since 1970. There has been no upward trend. Mom works more but dad works less.
http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/USAAHWEP
http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/EMRATIO
http://research.stlouisfed.org/fredgraph.png?g=d5P
http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2000/07/art3full.pdf
The poor specifically are huge beneficiaries of this trend, and work very little.
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
In any case, I'm glad we are in agreement that adventured is wrong and standard of living has gone up.