I'm really sorry I missed this when it landed on my page because you've made some excellent points. I think you're probably right on this - the creation of the Western middle class came from offsetting the 'working class' to other parts of the world. We traded slavery for economic slavery and hoped nobody would notice the difference. We can all have super cheap consumables provided such things are manufactured out of sight under conditions of economic necessity.

The difficultly comes, as you've pointed out, when the economic wealth can no longer be imported. Everyone is happy maintaining a lifestyle when times are bountiful, but when you're told 'food prices are rising' and you can no longer have the luxury goods promised to you by instagram starlets - the cracks start to show. There are more bullshit jobs than ever before and the UK/US workforce is beginning to fatigue. Many have realised that they can do their jobs in about half the time (and from home) and so are starting to leave the safety of their bullshit and embark on adventures new.

I think drinking your own beer, eating your own food and putting twitter in the bin is an excellent route to happiness. I'm glad to say I'm 1.5/3 on this.... though a Penguin cannot subsist on lettuce, raspberries and a handful of potatoes alone.