Depends on our point of view, whether we think average standard of living is better or worse. Suicide rates are up, life expectancy is on the way down. And rates of death and misery from warfare and planetary disaster are increasing. Those are indications that things are not so rosy for most folk, I think. But I agree with your skepticism of geting the "Powers that be" to jiggle the money around.

The analysis still stands, that inflation is due to their inaction in the direction needed.

So to me it looks like nature is the one already sticking the gun in their faces. In it, is the silver bulllet of inflation.

Getting them to see it, seems like the only thing left that needs to be done, I think.