Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

As much as we might not want to admit it, when one change occurs, everything in that system changes.

Tech workers, who can work from anywhere, are moving to places with a lower cost of living and hence increasing their quality of life. This raises the average salary in those lower-cost-of-living places. This raises the cost of housing in those places. The cost of living rises when we wanted it to stay the same.

There was a change in the system. In the above example, the change was the arrival of “just a few” folks who had higher salaries. Change changed things. Consider:

• A 19-year-old player comes into the NBA. The league changes.
• The NFL changes a rule. The league changes.
• Someone moves into the house down the street. The neighborhood changes.

We could go on with this. Alas, change changes things. It has always been that way, it will always be that way.

“But I just want to change one small thing. It won’t bother anyone. They won’t even notice.” Sorry. It will. They will.

For those who want things to “return to normal” after this virus passes, sorry.