Hi VJ, thanks for the comment.

Yes, the coupling of BA degrees with jobs that only required a high school diploma right up until the end of the 90s is definitely a part of this career inflation phenomenon. My own personal theory on it is that insisting on higher education as a prerequisite enabled the delayed entry of millions into a labour market that had been rendered anemic after years of neoliberal policies, ie. utterly lacking good quality careers.

These days, completing a degree is by far not even enough. As you say, you now need to have attended a prestigious university, have tonnes of extracurriculars and commit to at least 2/3 unpaid internships before you could even consider becoming a proper journalist - and even then, you would need to know someone in the industry to get your first job.

The healthcare system in the US is shockingly inhumane, with big pharma and the insurance companies making off like bandits while everyone else suffers financially and physically. I don't see how this racket can be sustained for much longer, yet then again, as long as those at the top are beholden to corporations, nothing will ever change.

A truly strange, bizarre and sad situation for everyone.