The crazy fake dangerous mythology that my generation had it 'better' for creating wealth:

A) I Started a company in 1994.
Cost me +$1 min cash. All risk, not vc funded. No such thing then

B) Had to pay salaries, not "equity"

C) Had to have w2 employees, not contractors

D) Had to have an office and furniture, light bills etc. not WeWork

More?

My first home had +10% interest. 2nd had 9%.
No asset appreciation for 10yrs
Didn't have AirBnB to extract value from asset.

Cars always broke down. Potholes cost me price of a vacation

And so on

What are the if differences I see today?

1. Behavior has changed people want things now 'or else'.
I had a very fixed budget, ate at Rosario's everyday (ask any Wall Street from that era)

2. Taxes, all in, today are off the charts higher and inescapable. This generation, and since mid 2000s got bullshitted into Minimum Alternative Tax... and also gave away all the LLC taxable advantages.

I fear this current (belligerent) generation/ young'ins will vote in new politicians and their lies that will prohibit them and their children from even having the opportunities for wealth creation they have had.

You're turning off the lights and slamming the door behind you

Perhaps:
1. It is easier to create wealth today

2. It is harder to preserve wealth today

"It's not his much you make, it's his much you keep"

Ludicrous incidental taxes and government foreclosing on people's tax exemptions/advantages/loopholes.

Fight that battle