Biden’s America. Illegal migrants in many instances are getting a free ride. And putting pressure on the housing market that hits Americans hard if they are looking fora new home or paying the rent.
Why is he talking to a person holding a very expensive trendy beverage and who likely will have at least one more before the day is over? She obviously doesn’t face his dilemma.
I know that people are complaining about 6% mortgage rates. When I left for my military assignment in Japan, we sold our house for fair market value at $46,000. When we got back three and a half years later, we bought a house in a more affordable area, for $100,000 and a 12.5% mortgage rate.
We’ve been here before and it is tough.
We bought our current house at 8.5% but kept refinancing as the rates went down.
Inflation is not all of a piece. Gasoline prices are cheap (when compared to the rest of the world and overall inflation). Food prices are moderating and some items even went down. On average, wages have increased more than inflation – not a great comfort to those whose wages have not increased that much.
What is out of control is housing. Large holding companies are buying houses and rental properties and dictating prices. My son is paying almost as much a month for a 500 square foot studio apartment as I was paying for my mortgage on a 2,600 square foot, 4 bedroom, two and a half bath house.
It is simple minded to blame the administration currently in the White House for inflation, no matter what party that happens to be. Inflation is not unique to America. It is an international crisis. In the European Union, inflation is nearly 11 percent. In Germany, it is 11.6 percent. In the United Kingdom it is 10.1 percent. In Ireland, it’s 9.6 percent. In America, it’s 8.2 percent, much too high, but lower than it is throughout much of Europe.
If you are wondering why we continue to pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, you should know that Pfizer has increased its profits by 42 percent so far this year to $26.4 billion.
Gasoline? Profits of Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP and Shell skyrocketed by 169 percent so far this year to $125 billion. They are spending over $73 billion not to reduce gas prices at the pump but to buy back their own stock and increase dividends to their wealthy stockholders.
Groceries? Global food prices skyrocketed by over 33 percent last year and are expected to go up another 23 percent this year. Billionaires in the global food and agri-business industry became $382 billion richer during the pandemic.
Covid actually did cause problems that were a genuine reason to raise prices. Once those prices were raised, even after those problems have been solved, they aren’t coming down unless people stop buying and there is a glut that has to be addressed by lowering them.
It is possible to impose a minimum wage that supports a decent standard of living. And, it is possible to regulate commerce to control prices, it is done in other countries, but that is the last thing the Republicans want to see happen. They fight against any regulation of capitalism, because it’s an American right to be free of government interference, except in your religious rights, your medical decisions, your choice of reading materials and your bedroom.
Americans are so very spoiled. Today, tens of millions of people are trying to survive in hateful weather conditions with minimal shelter or food in refugee camps around the world, many of whom would be happily at home if it wasn’t for our country’s interference or lack thereof.
Right now, villages are being attacked worldwide by well-armed rebel or government forces.
And we complain about gas prices while we leave the car running so the kids and the dog can stay in air-conditioned comfort while we go shopping.
I would start by blaming the billionaires and corporations who have kept higher prices in place when their costs have gone down and have benefitted from obscenely high profits in the process.
Next, I would blame the GOP (MAGA Republicans) for gaslighting U.S. citizens by telling us the people fighting FOR us are to blame for what GOP politicians and SCOTUS have caused.
1) President Biden passed a bipartisan law that gave tax breaks to lower- and middle-class citizens, along with a Child Tax Credit to help those taxpayers. The GOP politicians immediately worked to block extending those very popular provisions because it would decrease the GOP’s prospects of winning their next election cycle.
2) On day one of his presidency, President Biden proposed a plan to improve the efficiency of processing asylum-seekers, processing LEGAL immigration, and addressing those seeking to become citizens who have been placed in the position of being undocumented, like DACA recipients. (The only long-term solution to address these issues is by Congress passing laws.)
A bipartisan group finally developed an immigration bill that had bipartisan support and an endorsement from the border patrol workers. Donald Trump was afraid it would tank his presidential bid, so he told the GOP senators and GOP congressmen to block the bill.
3) A bill that was presented to raise the federal minimum wage was blocked by GOP politicians. The GOP politicians want their rich donors to keep making obscene profits while withholding the benefits of the improved economy from the rest of us.
GOP politicians should be wearing a scarlet letter “L” for “Liar”.
Quixotic1 5 days ago
The fat cats have gotten the lion’s share of the economic gains, with the help of trumpublicans.
GOGOPOWERANGERS 5 days ago
Time to leave to a cheaper country
Sun 5 days ago
Democrats can’t afford to pay attention.
aristoclesplato9 5 days ago
Biden’s America. Illegal migrants in many instances are getting a free ride. And putting pressure on the housing market that hits Americans hard if they are looking fora new home or paying the rent.
akachman Premium Member 5 days ago
Then stop voting for republicans that give massive tax breaks to the rich. The well-off have not paid their fair share in taxes since the 1970s.
purepaul 5 days ago
Two solutions- earn more or need less.
Direwolf 5 days ago
Life is above my pay grade.
robcarroll1213 5 days ago
WOMAN IN HAT REPLIES: “And you are?”
sandpiper 5 days ago
Why is he talking to a person holding a very expensive trendy beverage and who likely will have at least one more before the day is over? She obviously doesn’t face his dilemma.
dflak 5 days ago
I know that people are complaining about 6% mortgage rates. When I left for my military assignment in Japan, we sold our house for fair market value at $46,000. When we got back three and a half years later, we bought a house in a more affordable area, for $100,000 and a 12.5% mortgage rate.
We’ve been here before and it is tough.
We bought our current house at 8.5% but kept refinancing as the rates went down.
Inflation is not all of a piece. Gasoline prices are cheap (when compared to the rest of the world and overall inflation). Food prices are moderating and some items even went down. On average, wages have increased more than inflation – not a great comfort to those whose wages have not increased that much.
What is out of control is housing. Large holding companies are buying houses and rental properties and dictating prices. My son is paying almost as much a month for a 500 square foot studio apartment as I was paying for my mortgage on a 2,600 square foot, 4 bedroom, two and a half bath house.
timinwsac Premium Member 5 days ago
Do like many do in California just pitch a tent out on the sidewalk.
Alberta Oil Premium Member 5 days ago
Gotta adjust your life to your price range. A simple concept really.
Radish the wordsmith 5 days ago
Stop[ voting for republicans, they don’t care about you at all.
Chazz 5 days ago
Don’t tell me the average citizen can’t live within their budget.Greed is a miserable life.
Diane Lee Premium Member 5 days ago
It is simple minded to blame the administration currently in the White House for inflation, no matter what party that happens to be. Inflation is not unique to America. It is an international crisis. In the European Union, inflation is nearly 11 percent. In Germany, it is 11.6 percent. In the United Kingdom it is 10.1 percent. In Ireland, it’s 9.6 percent. In America, it’s 8.2 percent, much too high, but lower than it is throughout much of Europe.
If you are wondering why we continue to pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, you should know that Pfizer has increased its profits by 42 percent so far this year to $26.4 billion.Gasoline? Profits of Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP and Shell skyrocketed by 169 percent so far this year to $125 billion. They are spending over $73 billion not to reduce gas prices at the pump but to buy back their own stock and increase dividends to their wealthy stockholders.
Groceries? Global food prices skyrocketed by over 33 percent last year and are expected to go up another 23 percent this year. Billionaires in the global food and agri-business industry became $382 billion richer during the pandemic.Covid actually did cause problems that were a genuine reason to raise prices. Once those prices were raised, even after those problems have been solved, they aren’t coming down unless people stop buying and there is a glut that has to be addressed by lowering them.
It is possible to impose a minimum wage that supports a decent standard of living. And, it is possible to regulate commerce to control prices, it is done in other countries, but that is the last thing the Republicans want to see happen. They fight against any regulation of capitalism, because it’s an American right to be free of government interference, except in your religious rights, your medical decisions, your choice of reading materials and your bedroom.MuddyUSA Premium Member 5 days ago
Thanks to Old Joe and his gang…..that applies to a lot of folks!
I Play One On TV 5 days ago
Americans are so very spoiled. Today, tens of millions of people are trying to survive in hateful weather conditions with minimal shelter or food in refugee camps around the world, many of whom would be happily at home if it wasn’t for our country’s interference or lack thereof.
Right now, villages are being attacked worldwide by well-armed rebel or government forces.
And we complain about gas prices while we leave the car running so the kids and the dog can stay in air-conditioned comfort while we go shopping.
Get a grip, people.
dlw54650 Premium Member 5 days ago
I would start by blaming the billionaires and corporations who have kept higher prices in place when their costs have gone down and have benefitted from obscenely high profits in the process.
Next, I would blame the GOP (MAGA Republicans) for gaslighting U.S. citizens by telling us the people fighting FOR us are to blame for what GOP politicians and SCOTUS have caused.
1) President Biden passed a bipartisan law that gave tax breaks to lower- and middle-class citizens, along with a Child Tax Credit to help those taxpayers. The GOP politicians immediately worked to block extending those very popular provisions because it would decrease the GOP’s prospects of winning their next election cycle.
2) On day one of his presidency, President Biden proposed a plan to improve the efficiency of processing asylum-seekers, processing LEGAL immigration, and addressing those seeking to become citizens who have been placed in the position of being undocumented, like DACA recipients. (The only long-term solution to address these issues is by Congress passing laws.)
A bipartisan group finally developed an immigration bill that had bipartisan support and an endorsement from the border patrol workers. Donald Trump was afraid it would tank his presidential bid, so he told the GOP senators and GOP congressmen to block the bill.
3) A bill that was presented to raise the federal minimum wage was blocked by GOP politicians. The GOP politicians want their rich donors to keep making obscene profits while withholding the benefits of the improved economy from the rest of us.
GOP politicians should be wearing a scarlet letter “L” for “Liar”.