We’ve all been told that our own decisions are the reason we’ve ended up in whatever financial situation we’re in. Specifically, the financial struggles of working-class people are always our own fault. It’s because we buy too much coffee, too many avocados, whatever the latest thing is now. When prices go up, we’re told to cut back. Never mind the surging corporate profits or the tax cuts for the rich or the subsidies for their companies. What you need to do is cancel Netflix, or stop eating out so much, or skip breakfast.
Spot on as usual and definitely validating— I have no idea how to engage in activism but I’ve been feeling so powerless lately and know that there’s not much I can do individually. I don’t even know where to begin, does anyone else have experience with this?
WSJ and the corporations are so out of touch with the common folks. I remember reading during the Pandemic how during investor calls, CEOs were boasting how much profits their companies were making. Pepsico is one example, Kellogg is another.
The only power consumers have is to buy less from these companies. Consume less in general. I, for example, have not bought any Pepsi, Coke or any sugary drinks since the outrageous Pandemic price increases. I rarely buy chips, but do so at times. Same with cookies. Mostly, we do our own baking, and make the majority of our meals at home. Healthier and better for your wallet.
Well said, as always. Yesterday I read an article about how fast food restaurants in California are planning to raise prices to offset the minimum wage increase in April… it’s just beyond infuriating at this point
excellent points, the cost of food, the declining value of wages, etc. are in C. Wright Mill's terms not personal problems but iinstead public issues, the require group solutions.
So spot on. One of my goals for 2024 is to make some time to find the activists in Boston. I’ve made connections with ones working towards a free Palestine and I want to get involved with ones fighting for better wages in the restaurant industry too.
The WSJ article is paywalled. Do you mind sharing what it said regarding how much Americans are spending on food? Is it a percentage of their salary? I’m curious how that number relates to food spending back in the 90s, when food cost was higher but housing prices were significantly lower.
I’ve been thinking along these lines regarding the formation of a “Citizens’ Union”, to counterbalance the corporate power in our political parties and governing bodies.
I think it’s a complicated but necessary step in making our government serve the People again.
This is why the idea of "exit and build" works. Helping each other with human needs (such as food). One person can't do much, but a small group such as a church or neighborhood can do much to increase living standards for its members.
"Cockroaches- A nutritional and eco-friendly tasty additions to your meal plans"
Cockroaches are an overlooked super food that are readily available in nearly all rentals today, and the savings can be applied to your rent increase. The USDA recommends them and offers sound advice on trapping and cooking them. Extremely versatile they can be pan fried, baked, boiled or steamed as a tasty nutritional side dish or main course. Deep fried they make a tasty snack.
Additionally you will be saved from toxic pesticides to exterminate them saving your landlord money and bother. It's a win win situation!
WSJ is just spreading BS like all TV networks advertising thrift stores and thrift clothes. Do their broadcasters and reporters wear thrift clothes? I doubt it. It’s so embarrassing this is what we succumbed to in one of the richest countries of the world. All while congress have no problem signing off on billions of aide to keep inhumane wars going. Or let’s just be accurate and say finance genocide around the world so Arms moguls can profit. The maddening thing is there is a concrete belief now thats the only way out of a bad economy. Go figure.
I dream of us all having the wisdom and courage to abandon the toxic food industry anyway so they can belly up and kiss our a$$es. Food = health and we are all sick from all our unconscious consumptions. In other countries, systems are built that help the people living there. Unlike here where they are built to directly harm us. Enough is enough. Skip the cereal but only because it is garbage and it makes you sick anyway. 🙏🏻💫
We had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in our sack lunch at school every day. We had pancakes for breakfast a lot. I cannot stand either because it represents food insecurity I never want to experience again.
I thought Noahpinion pretty conclusively debunked both the WSJ chart and article. He says what the data show is that people are spending more in restaurants.
Spot on as usual and definitely validating— I have no idea how to engage in activism but I’ve been feeling so powerless lately and know that there’s not much I can do individually. I don’t even know where to begin, does anyone else have experience with this?
I'm done calling it "cost of living": it's the Ransoming of Life
WSJ and the corporations are so out of touch with the common folks. I remember reading during the Pandemic how during investor calls, CEOs were boasting how much profits their companies were making. Pepsico is one example, Kellogg is another.
The only power consumers have is to buy less from these companies. Consume less in general. I, for example, have not bought any Pepsi, Coke or any sugary drinks since the outrageous Pandemic price increases. I rarely buy chips, but do so at times. Same with cookies. Mostly, we do our own baking, and make the majority of our meals at home. Healthier and better for your wallet.
Well said, as always. Yesterday I read an article about how fast food restaurants in California are planning to raise prices to offset the minimum wage increase in April… it’s just beyond infuriating at this point
excellent points, the cost of food, the declining value of wages, etc. are in C. Wright Mill's terms not personal problems but iinstead public issues, the require group solutions.
So spot on. One of my goals for 2024 is to make some time to find the activists in Boston. I’ve made connections with ones working towards a free Palestine and I want to get involved with ones fighting for better wages in the restaurant industry too.
The WSJ article is paywalled. Do you mind sharing what it said regarding how much Americans are spending on food? Is it a percentage of their salary? I’m curious how that number relates to food spending back in the 90s, when food cost was higher but housing prices were significantly lower.
A lovely written piece! Sharing now!
I’ve been thinking along these lines regarding the formation of a “Citizens’ Union”, to counterbalance the corporate power in our political parties and governing bodies.
I think it’s a complicated but necessary step in making our government serve the People again.
Asshole Economists: "Millennials don't have houses because they buy Starbucks every day and don't save money."
Millennials: ((stop buying Starbucks and save money))
Asshole Economists: "MILLENNIALS ARE KILLING THE CAFE INDUSTRY, WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS."
I’m convinced WSJ writes articles specifically to piss off working class people
This is why the idea of "exit and build" works. Helping each other with human needs (such as food). One person can't do much, but a small group such as a church or neighborhood can do much to increase living standards for its members.
https://freedomcells.org/
Next WSJ article
"Cockroaches- A nutritional and eco-friendly tasty additions to your meal plans"
Cockroaches are an overlooked super food that are readily available in nearly all rentals today, and the savings can be applied to your rent increase. The USDA recommends them and offers sound advice on trapping and cooking them. Extremely versatile they can be pan fried, baked, boiled or steamed as a tasty nutritional side dish or main course. Deep fried they make a tasty snack.
Additionally you will be saved from toxic pesticides to exterminate them saving your landlord money and bother. It's a win win situation!
WSJ is just spreading BS like all TV networks advertising thrift stores and thrift clothes. Do their broadcasters and reporters wear thrift clothes? I doubt it. It’s so embarrassing this is what we succumbed to in one of the richest countries of the world. All while congress have no problem signing off on billions of aide to keep inhumane wars going. Or let’s just be accurate and say finance genocide around the world so Arms moguls can profit. The maddening thing is there is a concrete belief now thats the only way out of a bad economy. Go figure.
I dream of us all having the wisdom and courage to abandon the toxic food industry anyway so they can belly up and kiss our a$$es. Food = health and we are all sick from all our unconscious consumptions. In other countries, systems are built that help the people living there. Unlike here where they are built to directly harm us. Enough is enough. Skip the cereal but only because it is garbage and it makes you sick anyway. 🙏🏻💫
We had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in our sack lunch at school every day. We had pancakes for breakfast a lot. I cannot stand either because it represents food insecurity I never want to experience again.
I thought Noahpinion pretty conclusively debunked both the WSJ chart and article. He says what the data show is that people are spending more in restaurants.