When it comes to retirement time, the government will see 1x persons who have scrimped and saved for retirement and 10x persons who have nothing saved for retirement because they have indulged themselves with a daily $4 latte, $15 bought lunches, $200/month mobile phone bills, etc. Those government officials will then happily sacrifice the 1x population for the 10x votes by labeling the 1x population as selfish and not providing their fair share. Look for the government to simply confiscate savings of the 1x.
Not long ago you had just a $30/mo phone bill + long distance. Now there is cable, data, voice and cellular. Wages didn't go up to support that cost.
Very true. One of my wife's former co-workers is a case in point. ALWAYS poormouthing, BUT has a much newer car (a Lexus) than either my wife or I do, has a smartphone, shops in Lord and Taylor, goes on expensive vacations, etc. I loath the woman because she makes comments like "must be nice to be able to afford to ..." when you mention doing something. I have been tempted to say must be even nicer to do stuff anyway even when you can't afford it. but my wife would kill me.