A Worst Past, a Better Future

Thank goodness for our poorer forebears. Amid the current economic gloom, their comparative poverty is a bright spot for us. In a New York Times/CBS News poll, few people said they’re faring worse than their parents did. Asked how their own standard of living compares to that of their parents at the same age, 32 percent said it’s “much better” and 30 percent said “somewhat better.” Twelve percent said their own living standard is “somewhat worse,” and 5 percent rated it “much worse.”