Fair enough, but I'd argue they should have known.
Capitalism was already showing the danger of income and wealth inequality and the gap kept growing well into the 90's, with no end in sight.
The fear of stagnate wages was very real back then. That's why so many adults adults in the 90's pushed their kids to go to college as their only way to compete in the future market. "Go to college or become a loser." They knew you couldn't just get a factory job making a livable wage anymore, the writing was on the wall.
Anyway, im really just arguing with myself at this point, don't take any of this directed at you.