"Living standards"

[opebo]

While 'standard of living' does have some 'objective' criteria it can best be understood (both overall and particularly in its political meaning) as a relative concept.  One may have more cheap junk in ones hovel in 2009 than in 1969, but ones position relative to the owner is very much more oppressed.

[opebo]

Yes yes, we're all "slaves" to the "man".  If being a slave means DVRs, large HDTVs, modern PCs w/ broadband, a grocery store with more food options than any sane human could want and all the other awesome things life in 2009 brings us.  It sure beats picking cotton or playing human shield on the front lines.

Lots of people can't afford those things, and lots more can't afford health care, housing, or transportation.  Also it is worth noting that there is virtually nothing in an American grocery store that I would want.

Capitalism dos NOT provide for the lower classes, deadman - why would it?  What reason is there for it to do that?  The odd thing is it also tends to reduce choice and quality (re: your grocery store example).