[Gargamel]

Part of it is technology.

What was once considered the only essentials to have (Rent, food, water, electric), is only a portion of what comes out of the monthly income of most families.

Cars, TV, Internet, etc.

Yes, they are not truly essentials, but in todays world, at least where I'm at, you're basically a pariah without these.

Good luck filling out a job application without a internet connection. No ISP? just go grab a public wifi access point. Oh, no laptop? Oh just use a public library! Oh, so you frown upon releasing personal info on an unsecured public terminal? Too bad.

It's 28 miles to your new job. Oh, you can't cover the gas money? Get a better car with better mileage....

And on and on.

These Corporations keep jacking up prices for near essential services with no basis other than greed.

Then education.... For a lot of people, it's either put food on their table for their kids, or pay tuition for school.

Sometimes I believe a purely communist society is the way to go.... then I remember humans would be involved.....