I was watching an interview with Neil Ferguson and Konstantin Kisin where the statement was made that generation Z is not able to match up and have families because of the cost of housing. It sounds good. It sounded good when my children bought homes and provided grandchildren. It sounded good when I was young and the first born arrived. I think it sounded good when my parents were young.
By sounding good I don’t mean it is true. It means it is a good excuse.
Investigate this a little bit. Houses are expensive but I don’t think the problem is the cost of housing. Children are a lot of work but they are also a lot of reward. I don’t think it is an economic problem. It is a moral and cultural problem where a narcissistic group wants everything and wants it perfect so they’re not willing to risk mortgages, relationships and the pregnancies. They are not willing to make the sacrifices. They are not willing to lower their sights on the number of bedrooms and the logos on their cars.
Fifty years ago I heard how a family could not survive on one salary. I have heard it on a regular basis ever since. Somehow, in spite of that common wisdom we did it. How? Can you spell “used cars”, “yard sales”, “thrift stores”, “hand me downs” and “stifled pride”? Today it is working for my children.
I am humble enough to admit it might not work out for everyone. I am discerning enough to know that most people won’t try.
homo unius libri
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Amen!
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