I agree with everything you've said here. I know many people who worked very hard and still do not have the kinds of resources that much of just plain existing today requires.

For the record I don't/didn't expect anything from my parents and am overall just stunned that they were able to prepare at all for their retirement/longterm care, as they were farmers. If I had to make a living as a farmer I would be dead by this time next year, if not sooner.

How did we get to all these problems driving by such increasing inequality (which I think is the root of a lot of problems, as you point out): gradually, and then all of a sudden. I think we're getting to "all of a sudden."