this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2024
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US Authoritarianism

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[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 55 points 3 months ago (3 children)

How does housing and food factor in too though, that’s only one portion of expenses. Entertainment costs far more for example, lots didn’t even really have entertainment than books.

[–] gramathy@lemmy.ml 36 points 3 months ago

Also ignores the approximately $1000 of books you’re buying every year

[–] ech@lemm.ee 18 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Entertainment costs far more for example, lots didn’t even really have entertainment than books.

This is a bizarre statement. People have had entertainment since society has been a thing. It may not always look like what you do, but it has always been around, and yes, it was more than "books".

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 3 months ago (3 children)

A podcast I was listening to today suggested that food is more affordable now than it was 50 yo. I don't know if that's true, but it would seem possible given all the science lowering costs for producers (additives, artificial ingredients, preservatives).

[–] whoreticulture@lemmy.world 13 points 3 months ago

Rent is definitely proportionally higher though, and that's much more of the monthly budget.

[–] chknbwl@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I often wonder how inexpensive produce would be if GMO crops weren't demonized. I know the USA has several varieties of GMO fruit and veg on the market, but it's availability is so scarce, and many countries still outright ban any bioengineered organism.

[–] sep@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

do not mind the gmo crops themself. but the companies pushing them are almost nestle level horrible. open source gmo crops. now sign me up.

[–] KevonLooney@lemm.ee 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Costs are not the reason for higher food prices; it's demand. They charge more because you have no option. The average person has no way or ability to grow food and not much aptitude for cooking. That's a recipe for higher food prices.

[–] chknbwl@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

Cost is a function of supply and demand. GMO crops yield more, so there would be a larger supply, thus driving down cost if demand remains the same. This is totally pedantic though because you're still right:

They charge more because you have no option.

I took capitalist greed as a given... my bad.

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

That makes sense, due to breeding one chicken produces more product by a few factors than it used to for example.

But you would probably have to be on a specific diet to achieve it at the same time.