Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for January 10, 2014
January 09, 2014
January 11, 2014
Transcript:
Mary Lou: You've obviously been giving a lot of thought to my shortcomings!
Mary Lou: It's good to know I'm an uptight workaholic!
Mary Lou: Gene, why don't you tell me what this is all about?
Gene: ZZZZ....
Her returning that love won’t change anything. Gene is working the equivalent at two jobs (or more) and suddenly realized that they are not “getting ahead”. That’s because it’s impossible today to “get ahead”. Every parent who has children Gene’s age sees how tired and discouraged they are. This is a phenomenon that started in about 1980.
Um, Scully, this is a comic strip, albeit one of the best. It’s not real life. Somehow I don’t think Mr. Johnson is making a statement about a faltering economy.
Scully may have overstepped in saying it is impossible to get ahead these days, but he is correct that it has gotten more difficult- the generations coming of age after 1980 are not attaining the same levels of income (adjusted for inflation) or the same standard of living (despite two incomes having become the norm, rather than one) as did their parents. High housing costs (again, adjusted for inflation), high costs for post secondary, and decreasing opportunities for advancement in the workplace are typifying the experience of Gen X and millenials – more education and experience is expected for the same sorts of work as was the case in the past, and as a whole, these generations are experiencing downward mobility. This is what it means when economists talk about the middle class being decimated – hard work is no longer necessarily enough to attain a middle class life. Opportunity still exists, but the prospects for success have shrunk.
The value of any thing, every thing including labor depends on how rare it is. If you want more than a Minimum Wage you need through education or experience or just plain smarts to offer something someone is willing to pay more than minimum wage for.
I don’t begrudge Bill Gates or Steve Jobs their billions, they put on my desk and in my pocket for less than $1,000 a computer that is more powerful and useful than the computer (IBM 360) my university paid a few million for in 1972.
Lots of doom and gloom here today. Funny, that doesn’t reflect my experience at all. I left home for college in 84 and have done as well or better than my folks, and they did all right as well. My kids are mostly on track to do well also, and none of us are “1% ers.” I know a lot of you will dismiss this as an anecdote, but that’s the reality I see. having lived in several other countries over the years, I’ll take this one, thanks!
Of course people can get ahead today. But many people go into debt buying a bigger house and car than they need, expensive electronics they could do without and a $4 cup of coffee every day. If people can afford the latest smart phone, a big screen TV and Starbucks everyday, they are not poor.
Lots of entitlement mentality here today…..quote: “for every winner there has to be a loser, and usually many more losers than winners.”Bull. People today are simply taking their retirement now,by buying toys for themselves instead of saving for the future….and by totally ignoring education whenthey are in school.
Maybe Gene’s just trying to say that killing themselves so they can have a bunch of “stuff” just seems like a losing proposition.That’s why some of us who grew up “well off” have chosen to live a “lower-key” life in order to have more time with family and/or a job that we enjoy.Sadly, some are not able to make those choices, circumstances require them to work jobs they hate for far too many hours just to nearly make ends meet. If we have no sympathy and call them “free-loaders”, “lazy”, or “entitled” we are less human for being less humane.
Most of the comments about the state of the world just show that they think that they’re profound.If my recollection is right, A & J’s jobs have never come up as a subject of the strip which as just about the two of them. So now, with their kid, JJ is going in the opposite direction. Strange, to say the least. Sure hope that JJ isn’t loosing his marbles.
Jimmy is so talented..he can make me laugh…and teach me something. Plus all of your comments are helpful. It’s sharing an important topic but taking all the demogury of the Reps and Dems out.
Swalb%515 almost 11 years ago
Because, he’s too bored.
tammyspeakslife Premium Member almost 11 years ago
exhausted from working
Pharmakeus Ubik almost 11 years ago
Not bored, bone tired.
GR6 almost 11 years ago
Honeymoon’s over.
timzsixty9 almost 11 years ago
it’s about 8 hours of shut-eye!
CPOChuckG almost 11 years ago
In today’s episode:
Like Father, Like SonorThe Nut Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree
Bontebok almost 11 years ago
This is love. To please her and to be the husband he thinks she wants, he has driven himself to exhaustion. Now it’s time for her to return that love.
ScullyUFO almost 11 years ago
Her returning that love won’t change anything. Gene is working the equivalent at two jobs (or more) and suddenly realized that they are not “getting ahead”. That’s because it’s impossible today to “get ahead”. Every parent who has children Gene’s age sees how tired and discouraged they are. This is a phenomenon that started in about 1980.
Doctor_McCoy almost 11 years ago
She’s more up front than Janis.
Bontebok almost 11 years ago
Um, Scully, this is a comic strip, albeit one of the best. It’s not real life. Somehow I don’t think Mr. Johnson is making a statement about a faltering economy.
Gray Vinson almost 11 years ago
I feel you Scully. You took the words right out of my mouth.
ScullyUFO almost 11 years ago
So Mr. Skip, what do you think Gene and Mary Lou should do? Also, it started much earlier; I think Lincoln was President at the time.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace almost 11 years ago
“You have no flaws or faults, Mary Lou, and I love you with all my heart and hopes. I am simply tired and sleepy. Please bear with me.”
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace almost 11 years ago
I read them too.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace almost 11 years ago
BTW Mary Lou looks good, all growed up and ever’ thang
bsqnbay almost 11 years ago
Agendas come pouring out in posts everyday with this strip. The man is simply tired. Nothing more, nothing less.
sbchamp almost 11 years ago
He’s got that ‘listenin’ thing down…
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace almost 11 years ago
If someone says, “I decided to be a waiter (or a cook) but why am I not rich?” the answer is, “Because THE MAN is oppressing you.”
Greg Johnston almost 11 years ago
Scully may have overstepped in saying it is impossible to get ahead these days, but he is correct that it has gotten more difficult- the generations coming of age after 1980 are not attaining the same levels of income (adjusted for inflation) or the same standard of living (despite two incomes having become the norm, rather than one) as did their parents. High housing costs (again, adjusted for inflation), high costs for post secondary, and decreasing opportunities for advancement in the workplace are typifying the experience of Gen X and millenials – more education and experience is expected for the same sorts of work as was the case in the past, and as a whole, these generations are experiencing downward mobility. This is what it means when economists talk about the middle class being decimated – hard work is no longer necessarily enough to attain a middle class life. Opportunity still exists, but the prospects for success have shrunk.
Chuck_it_all almost 11 years ago
I don’t begrudge Bill Gates or Steve Jobs their billions, they put on my desk and in my pocket for less than $1,000 a computer that is more powerful and useful than the computer (IBM 360) my university paid a few million for in 1972.
hippogriff almost 11 years ago
Try 1870s, when the Civil War profiteers took over the country and substituted capitalism for free enterprise.
Anweir88 almost 11 years ago
Lots of doom and gloom here today. Funny, that doesn’t reflect my experience at all. I left home for college in 84 and have done as well or better than my folks, and they did all right as well. My kids are mostly on track to do well also, and none of us are “1% ers.” I know a lot of you will dismiss this as an anecdote, but that’s the reality I see. having lived in several other countries over the years, I’ll take this one, thanks!
locake almost 11 years ago
Of course people can get ahead today. But many people go into debt buying a bigger house and car than they need, expensive electronics they could do without and a $4 cup of coffee every day. If people can afford the latest smart phone, a big screen TV and Starbucks everyday, they are not poor.
harmgb almost 11 years ago
Lots of entitlement mentality here today…..quote: “for every winner there has to be a loser, and usually many more losers than winners.”Bull. People today are simply taking their retirement now,by buying toys for themselves instead of saving for the future….and by totally ignoring education whenthey are in school.
Dr Lou Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Easy….exhaustion.
ARLOS DAD almost 11 years ago
Gene just can’t keep up….
Tandembuzz almost 11 years ago
Maybe Gene’s just trying to say that killing themselves so they can have a bunch of “stuff” just seems like a losing proposition.That’s why some of us who grew up “well off” have chosen to live a “lower-key” life in order to have more time with family and/or a job that we enjoy.Sadly, some are not able to make those choices, circumstances require them to work jobs they hate for far too many hours just to nearly make ends meet. If we have no sympathy and call them “free-loaders”, “lazy”, or “entitled” we are less human for being less humane.
April Anemone almost 11 years ago
Please remember, Gene got a college degree (two or three years ago) and if he wished, he might go for a more rewarding career than restaurant work.
George Alexander almost 11 years ago
Most of the comments about the state of the world just show that they think that they’re profound.If my recollection is right, A & J’s jobs have never come up as a subject of the strip which as just about the two of them. So now, with their kid, JJ is going in the opposite direction. Strange, to say the least. Sure hope that JJ isn’t loosing his marbles.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace almost 11 years ago
I feel certain they’d love to welcome you.
bachinsure almost 11 years ago
Jimmy is so talented..he can make me laugh…and teach me something. Plus all of your comments are helpful. It’s sharing an important topic but taking all the demogury of the Reps and Dems out.