Like I said, given the entry of billions into labor markets where we used to hold a near-monopoly (not to mention the development of so many technological productivity enhancers), it's a miracle the U.S. wage rate is doing as well as it is. We just got used to an artificially-high level of income and benefit growth under the old conditions.

Come to that, it's a miracle the world is doing as well as it is. The Malthusians thought we'd be eating each other by now.

The percentage of people living in poverty around the world has been dropping steadily. Life expectancies have increased. Third World nations are moving into the Second and First Worlds. Sucks for our former monopoly, but pretty good deal for them.