"My software engineering salary buying less of car/house/food than it did last year is a reflection (in an abstract sense) that my total share of "value" is relatively smaller by comparison to the factory worker, farmer, etc"
That's true if that factory worker or farmer is also getting a raise. It can still be true if those workers are getting raises higher than inflation even if you as a dev gets an inflation adjustment. The thing I was saying is that I should get inflation adjusted and those other people should be getting more than inflation adjusted by moving up the floor.
"it's a lot less convincing than "I'm 11% more productive"."
It can still be convincing if the company is able to charge 11% more for the same output you are producing.
"Now of course, the reality of the situation is that a lot of productivity increase went straight to the top instead of improving compensation. But wage-inflation for all doesn't solve that."
Not entirely, but maybe a little. The fact that the top are absorbing the increases while the workers absorb inflation is the problem. If wages are inflating as they are now, the at least puts pressure on the top to stop sucking up the extra to stay competitive. Maybe. I can't imagine how good life could have been if real wages hadn't decreased for the past 50 years.
"I'll take increase costs relative to my personal lifestyle if it means less people with essential jobs living paycheck to paycheck."
I'd rather make the top pay. I don't make all that much.
That's true if that factory worker or farmer is also getting a raise. It can still be true if those workers are getting raises higher than inflation even if you as a dev gets an inflation adjustment. The thing I was saying is that I should get inflation adjusted and those other people should be getting more than inflation adjusted by moving up the floor.
"it's a lot less convincing than "I'm 11% more productive"."
It can still be convincing if the company is able to charge 11% more for the same output you are producing.
"Now of course, the reality of the situation is that a lot of productivity increase went straight to the top instead of improving compensation. But wage-inflation for all doesn't solve that."
Not entirely, but maybe a little. The fact that the top are absorbing the increases while the workers absorb inflation is the problem. If wages are inflating as they are now, the at least puts pressure on the top to stop sucking up the extra to stay competitive. Maybe. I can't imagine how good life could have been if real wages hadn't decreased for the past 50 years.
"I'll take increase costs relative to my personal lifestyle if it means less people with essential jobs living paycheck to paycheck."
I'd rather make the top pay. I don't make all that much.