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American greatness was long premised on the common assumption was that each generation would do better than previous one. That is being undermined for the emerging millennial generation.
The problems facing millennials include an economy where job growth has been largely in service and part-time employment, producing lower incomes; the Census bureau estimates they earn, even with a full-time job, $2,000 less in real dollars than the same age group made in 1980. More millennials, notes a recent White House report, face far longer period of unemployment and suffer low rates of labor participation. More than 20 percent of people 18 to 34 live in poverty, up from 14 percent in 1980.
They are also saddled with ever more college debt, with around half of students borrowing for their education during the 2013-14 school year, up from around 30 percent in the mid-1990s. All this at a time when the returns on education seem to be dropping: A millennial with both a college degree and college debt, according to a recent analysis of Federal Reserve data, earns about the same as a boomer without a degree did at the same age.
[...] Like medieval serfs in pre-industrial Europe, America's new generation, particularly in its alpha cities, seems increasingly destined to spend their lives paying off their overlords, and having little to show for it.
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Tuesday February 07 2017, @04:30PM
The dryer is gas, not electric. It plugs into a regular 120V outlet only to run the controls, and I have plenty of cheap power strips with switches. Was shoddy design on Maytag's part, having the control panel take 5W even when supposedly "off". Thought Maytag was better than that. What tipped me off was that the panel was warm to the touch.
Forgot to mention one more huge power saver: don't even use a dryer. Use a rack. Easier on the clothes too. Problem is, the women don't like it. Complained that the clothes dry all stiff and wrinkled, that it increases the amount of mold indoors, and takes more space. I use a rack for all my clothes, and whatever of theirs I can slip on to it. Seems even the most liberal are all for the environment, until they're asked to dump the clothes dryer. At least we all agree on not using those terrible fabric softener sheets, many of which use phthalates.
I'm a cord never, despite family pressure to sign up. We compromised on Netflix. I'd rather not have that either, but at least it's a lot cheaper than cable. Just incredible how people are such suckers for such terrible deals for entertainment. I really don't understand why anyone who isn't rich pays $50/month or more for cable TV. Sure, they complain about the expense, but they still won't quit the cable company.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Tuesday February 07 2017, @04:43PM
It plugs into a regular 120V outlet only to run the controls,
Ah understood. Spin the drum too of course.
Complained that the clothes dry all stiff and wrinkled,
Hard water? I hang stuff outside sometimes. Might fade from sunlight or get dusty before its even dry but I never ran into wrinkly-stiff
An interesting concept to think about when the weather allows it is tumble dry is about the same as hanging the laundry outside and uses no energy to heat (well, if its cold or hot out the HVAC will work harder...)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 07 2017, @10:50PM
Gas should be all you need. Use an alternator to power the spark plugs or glow plugs.
As a nice option, you could have a starter motor instead of a crank or pull cord. This will require adding a battery.
The same goes for ceiling fans, blenders, etc.