why do people feel the need to buy expensive cable

All true. And yet we still have some of the highest income inequality among developed nations. Life expectancy has gone up for those making over $150,000 and remains stagnant for those who make under that amount. More people are rejecting vaccines. Health care is still viewed as a commodity and not a necessity. Science is being roundly rejected by a large portion of our country. Voodoo and superstition are being forced into some curriculum and claimed to be just as valid as the science being rejected. 

It seems that for that for every two forward steps we take, some take one step, if not more, backwards. We are a curious people. 

All the best,
Nonoise

It is a little bit pessimistic picture. I try to stay optimistic.

Pessimist:  It is so bad it cannot be any worse
Optimist:    Yes, it can!  Yes, it can!

Inequality is indeed on the increase everywhere, and that is not good news for the mass of the population or for growth prospects. 

Even if you have
Even if you need
I don't mean to stare
We don't have to breed
We could plant a house
We could build a tree
I don't even care
We could have all three

So I disconnected all of my power cords and replaced them with the stock cords. I didn't tell my wife what I did, but asked her to listen to a couple of her favorite songs. Her reaction, what happened to the bass, his voice sounds dead, it doesn't sound good,  what did you do? Hearing improvements makes one a believer.