look GAS, just b/c purchasing is more now days, well, the consituents and the American mentality is to consume, doesn't mean it will negate the impact of inflation b/c if the countries holding our debt decide to push in their "markers" then we'd head straightway to hyper-inflation.
just like the stock market, i don't mean to jump around, but during unemployment the market generally is fine and the green arrows go up. why ppl. ask? well simple the companies are beholden to board members, common share holder and such. so lay-offs = higher profit margin= more $$$$$
the lens thru which u are looking at the standard of living is skwed, see, i live in a metropolitain area so i see what is going on, IDK if u go out much or are insulated.
I'm not claiming that the US is in a good financial position nor that inflation is not taking place. I'm saying that the protesters are hurting hard working people far more than they are hurting the top 0.01% they are angry at. In just Oakland do you know how many small businesses are suffering because they can't get their merchandise out of the shipping containers at the port? Do the protesters believe that by increasing port fines, delaying product delivery, and letting product expire that they are hurting the multi billionaires? No... It's just causing small businesses to close and more layoffs...
"Lets hurt the small guys but them run out and buy brand new iPhones so we can organize the next destructive flashmob!" The people of America vote more with their $ than anything else - I find it hard to be compassionate with people mad at the people they essentially voted into wealth. You don't want corporate America? Then don't buy corporate America. Live simple, buy local, go without all the flashy new garbage constantly hitting the shelf. The problem is that people want both. They want every new high tech gadget at rock bottom prices but don't understand what comes with it.
But aside from everything else what do you think we should do about corporate wealth? Once a company makes over a certain profit should the government take it over? Or should we just dissolve the company? Lets say some guy just happens to pick the correct stocks to invest in but doesn't own a company nor is a CEO. Lets say he makes a couple billion through just good investments - should we slap him on the wrist at a certain point and take it all away? Punish him for being smarter than the rest? What about big buildings? Should we demolish most of the sky scrapers? No company/individual should be able to own a tower worth many many millions right? What about transportation - a fleet of planes is really really expensive, if no one is allowed to have a ton of money then no one/corporation can own a fleet or airplanes... Nuclear power plants are really expensive...
Keep in mind that the majority of the wealthiest peoples assets are not liquid - they are the buildings you frequent, the food on the shelves of the grocery store, the boats that transport gasoline from port to port, hell the ports themselves...
I'm from San Fransisco - Do you consider that a metropolitan area? I've been to New York, Delhi, Hamberg, Munich, Frankfurt, Mexico City, Jakarta, London, Paris, Prague, Barcelona, Madrid, and a few other major business locations so I am familiar with metropolitan areas and understand San Fransisco not to be a huge one - but I wouldn't consider it being "insulated". In my opinion quality of living is what inflated too quickly and we are just noticing the effect.
Do you know any billionaires - or what their daily life style is actually like? I do - and I would never trade my 20K a year and my lifestyle for their billions and their lifestyle.
