This idea of things will be better in the future is new to the human condition and currently an outlook that most in this country do not share.
Things however are, on average, easier today than past times, effort and cost to do basic things.
So what is happening to us when the GDP goes up much slower? It is the growing decline in expectations. The generation of the anti-Ozzie and Harriet, that famed TV family in the 50's that embodied growing expectations.
The video at right is a long description of why an economy grows and why it does not.
The concepts are simple and meaningful.