But does any of this equate to a 6x better life? This is extremely subjective, but I'd measure overall happiness, autonomy, and ability to participate in power as key ingredients for a better life. And going by those metrics, I seriously doubt that we are 6x better (or even 2x better).
All of the stats that you provided point to Americans being more productive over a longer period of time. People are becoming better at producing and consuming. However, by only looking at these numbers, you ignore what I feel makes us human. I don't think that the ultimate goal in a person's life is to add to their country's GDP. We are more than a cog in a machine. You can point to improvements centered around work, but what about enjoyment and free time? Surely a better life is one where you have more time to enjoy with family and friends, rather than being able to exceed your company's 3rd quarter sales projections.
All of the stats that you provided point to Americans being more productive over a longer period of time. People are becoming better at producing and consuming. However, by only looking at these numbers, you ignore what I feel makes us human. I don't think that the ultimate goal in a person's life is to add to their country's GDP. We are more than a cog in a machine. You can point to improvements centered around work, but what about enjoyment and free time? Surely a better life is one where you have more time to enjoy with family and friends, rather than being able to exceed your company's 3rd quarter sales projections.