can someone find the last thread on this where we had comparisons of actual stuff in there like how much safer and cheaper cars are now. and how all things considered in housing if size and appliances were equal its cheaper now.
"If X were equal" only matters
if that equal thing is actually available. I mean, sure -- an economy car in 2016 is a lot fancier than one from 1980, and conversely, a new but 1980-quality economy car would be pretty damn cheap. But the point is moot because the damn things don't exist and therefore it is not a choice to buy them!
Similarly, yes, a new "starter house" built with the same size, quality and amenities as the average "starter house" from 1980 would be very affordable -- but good luck finding one!
coming out of school in 2010 my wife (civil) had a 50k a year job that was pretty much the basement in the mdwest.
No. At worst, it was "pretty much the basement"
among the jobs that actually existed. Coming out of school in 2009, I was unable to find a civil engineering job
at all for over a year because there was very little construction happening due to the recession. When I did finally find one, it was at $40k.