Well said. The “American social contract” your generation bought into is gone—It’s not a contract rather a narrative; just soothing and credible enough to sustain belief while the real gains, advantages, and spoils diverge up to the top.

Perhaps the most gulling part of your anecdote is that you’ve been with that Credit Union for 35yrs! Sounds like it might as well have been 35days or 35minutes. Relationships mean nothing in today’s utterly transactional world. AI Actuaries are seeing to it.

btw, let me guess you’ve been a tax payer your whole life too :)