Henry Ford knew well enough what enabling his workers to buy his products would do.  The $5 day opened the door to middle class prosperity and sales exploded.  We have been systematically dismantling it for 40 years now, to the point where it all runs solely on credit.  Few know secure, stable and well paid employment, and even fewer enjoy a full spectrum of benefits.  That is mostly reserved for the elites of government, public employees, and a few in the private sector (union or senior management types).  Its not sustainable.  This time when the credit stops and the party is over, will be the last, at which point the public anger will be unlike anything ever seen in history.