There was a period of material progress and ramped up expectations

In general, looking at the Western democracies altogether, for about two hundred years between the middle of the eighteenth century and the middle of the twentieth century: The working day was reduced from twelve hours to ten to eight. Slavery and child labor were eliminated. The number of legislated vacation and sick-leave days expanded. Wages, benefits, healthcare coverage, unemployment insurance payments increased. Home ownership became the norm. The size and amenities of abodes increased.

Some of the “more” was based on colonial or neo-colonial hyper-exploitation of capitalism’s “sacrifice zones.” Some was based on the productivity of industrialism. Some was based on an infusion of cheap labor as the system globalized.

There will now, gradually, be less: Less cheap labor, less in the way of productivity gains, less in the way of easy-to-get-at resources. Current material standards of middle-class and working-class life could be maintained for a while if the Left’s program of redistributive justice could be implemented, but within the social context of mass society it won’t be. Anyway, that would not be a permanent solution … if the goal is considered to be “more and more.” It will take some adjustment, but the human race will be better off getting past those expectations.