All to true AC - enjoying this book BTY I start to wonder how he collated the information way back then.
Regarding the UK all isn't quite as bad as it might seem.
In a practical test 100 folks were asked to change a car tire , The vast majority knew how to change the tire and went through the routine .
The problems arose when they tried to undo the wheel nuts which had by enlarge been whizzed up at some garage or another with an impact gun - Hercules couldn't have shifted those nuts with the pathetic car wheel changing kit. - (unless he had a breaker bar hidden somewhere)
I know in Canada where your life can quickly depend on getting that car moving you make good and bloody sure you can get all the wheels off and on .
Its a long time since I was there it might even still be a law to carry candles in your motor lest you get stranded sub zero ?.
The AA, RAC , Green flag and all the other road side assistance guys are in so much competition here in the UK it tends to come as a simple £20 addition to you car insurance policy.
Typically they attest to being able to get to you anywhere in the country within an average of 20 mins .
In practice AC this transfers to even running out of petrol being resolved by a phone call to green flag or whoever,and alas this also translates to folks not caring if they can change a wheel or not, or even do very basic mechanics .
I even know a case of the AA being called out to fill a windscreen washer water bottle.
A very different matter in Canada with vast distances and very different winter conditions.
pull that stunt in Canada at the wrong time and place and I suspect you'd end up with a water bottle kicked up your arse.
Still AC all things being equal your observation is correct - most folks here could no longer change a car tire and if they can - why get their hands dirty?
The light bulb also isn't as extraordinary as it sounds . wind the clock back twenty years all the light bulbs were incandescent and pretty much identical your only choices were 40 watt 60 watt or 100 watt and the inevitable florescent fitting in the kitchen. anyone and his dog could and did change them.
Then came the lighting revolution ,save energy ! and lights alas, also started to become fashion statements too.
down lighters , up lighters, LEDs all types of cheap Chinese crap clipped and screwed or twisted even pop together still - 'crap'!
I struggle to get into some of that rubbish myself with out a hammer . (which is what they deserves most of the time )
So again what you read is probably correct however its the term 'light bulb' thats the curved ball this time.