'Americans Are Being Gaslit Into Thinking We're Getting Lazier And We're Too Entitled,' Says Man in Viral TikTok Comparing 2023 To The Great Depression – Is This The Great-er Depression?

In a viral TikTok video that now has over 2.2 million likes and 36.9 comments, a man known as Average Joe has ignited a thought-provoking discussion on the platform by comparing 2023 to the Great Depression. 

He begins the video by saying, "What I am about to show is not because I want to hurt people. I'm only doing this because we need to bring awareness to this situation. Americans are being gaslit into thinking we're getting lazier and we're too entitled and expecting too much.'

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His numbers make a compelling case, leading people to question whether the modern economy is facing more significant challenges than the infamous Great Depression that defined the 1930s in America.

During 1930, a pivotal year in the Great Depression, the average salary for a single person was $4,887. When adjusted for inflation, that corresponds to approximately $88,000 in today's dollars. In contrast, Average Joe's numbers indicate that the average salary for a single person in 2019 stood at $31,133, which, after rounding up to $32,000 and considering inflation, amounts to $38,066 in 2023.

 "We are in the Great Depression. We have the lowest purchasing power we have ever had in American history," Average Joe said. He emphasizes that the American dollar's buying power has diminished over time, leaving us economically weaker than even the Great Depression era.

This environment has resulted in a favorable investment environment. Housing prices continue to climb, and most major indices like the S&P 500 and NASDAQ are up over 15% and 25%, respectively. Other startups like Zennihome are targeting as high as 10% ROI on their REITs and other respectable investment vehicles.

Numerous comments on the TikTok video resonate with this sentiment. People confess to feeling that they're making more money than ever before, yet they're simultaneously grappling with financial challenges that hinder them from enjoying a better quality of life. The minimum wage has indeed increased, but so has inflation, creating a vicious cycle where more money doesn't necessarily translate to improved financial stability. 

One user stitched the video and said that although hearing this should be depressing, it actually helps. "I work so hard and I try so hard. It's nice to know my economic instability isn't just on me."  

Another comment with 100,200 likes said, "And all the people that survived the Great Depression are making the laws now."

One of the most concerning aspects highlighted in the discussion is the ongoing homeless epidemic. A user points out that while the homeless crisis is a topic of concern now, during the Great Depression, homeless people were often seen as victims of government policies.

 In 2022, homelessness reached an all-time high, with 127,768 reported unhoused individuals, attributed partly to the economic disruptions caused by the pandemic and insufficient federal support for homelessness prevention efforts. The housing market also faced a significant decline, with a 9.5% drop in home prices between March and November 2022.

The conclusion Average Joe draws from this analysis is that the current economic situation deserves the moniker "the great-er depression." It's a call to action, urging people to recognize the struggles faced by hardworking people who are barely making ends meet. Applauding those who manage to work full time while still providing for basic needs, he said, "If you manage to make it happen today, cheers to that."

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