return2ozmaInflation has created a dark cloud over how everyday Americans view the economy
Snot FlickermanInflation Capitalism has created a dark cloud over how everyday Americans view the economy
amniotic druidThe economy has created a dark cloud over how Americans view the economy.
FTFY. Quit with the gaslighting.
BuffaloxThe economy is doing great, it’s the distribution of it that’s the problem. But for some Reason Americans can’t seem to create a majority to do something about that. They’d rather keep the 1% happy for some reason.
Healthy distribution of wealth is an inextricable quality of a good economy. In other words, an economy can not be doing good if wealth isn’t distributed properly. Your comment only works if “the economy” = GDP, which the sentiment of hundreds of millions of Americans should tell you, isn’t the case.
Nope, if what you say were true, you couldn’t have a good economy with for instance slavery. Which I agree that morally you can’t, but economy is not moral, unless we make it so.
The economy doing well is pretty objective, whether it’s distributed properly is not.
It’s very obvious in for instance USA, that some people are perfectly fine with people starving and not having health care, they find that proper and all is well, because they believe if people were given food shelter and healthcare, it would be at the cost of their own wealth.
Less selfish people may believe something along the lines of the maximization of the welfare of everybody.
The economy doing well is pretty objective, whether it’s distributed properly is not.
It’s very obvious in for instance USA, that some people are perfectly fine with people starving and not having health care, they find that proper and all is well, because they believe if people were given food shelter and healthcare, it would be at the cost of their own wealth.
Less selfish people may believe something along the lines of the maximization of the welfare of everybody.
blazeraNope, if what you say were true, you couldn’t have a good economy with for instance slavery.
what kind of nightmare am I reading? You want fucking slavery?
No, it’s an example of economy having absolutely no morals, unless we apply it specifically, by making illegal things that are economically beneficial but immoral.
I think its just your idea of what a good economy should be having no morals.
You’re literally just repeating yourself.
if what you say were true, you couldn’t have a good economy with for instance slavery.
Begging the question. What I say is true, and no, you can not have a good economy with slavery. High GDP? For sure. But good economy? No. Why? Because there isn’t a healthy distribution of wealth.
The economy doing well is pretty objective, whether it’s distributed properly is not.
Wealth distribution isn’t some abstract concept. Plenty of frameworks have been developed to create (or at least attempt to create) a healthy distribution of wealth. The Kuznets curve and Pareto distribution have helped with economic planning across many European countries that don’t seem to have nearly the severity of income inequality or living unaffordability as the US.
I don’t even see how your last bit is relevant to my comment. Where does welfare fall into my main point that the economy is only doing great if you equate “the economy” to GDP?
Economy is measured on money, not quality of life or social justice. For that there are other measurements, like HDI.
There are zero classic economic models that agree with your claim, you are free to have your opinion, but opinions aren’t facts. And the fact is that unfortunately, you CAN have a good economy disregarding the morals of it are bad.
You may call whatever you want good or bad based on your own judgement, but saying a good economy needs to be moral, doesn’t even make any sense, because morality isn’t objective.
Your claim is simply factually wrong, no matter how much we may wish it were true.
There are zero classic economic models that agree with your claim, you are free to have your opinion, but opinions aren’t facts. And the fact is that unfortunately, you CAN have a good economy disregarding the morals of it are bad.
You may call whatever you want good or bad based on your own judgement, but saying a good economy needs to be moral, doesn’t even make any sense, because morality isn’t objective.
Your claim is simply factually wrong, no matter how much we may wish it were true.
"Economic models don't account for distribution. The Economy is fine. Eat your dirt."
I'm loving that more people are figuring this out.
it might feel hopeless now but for everyone that learns this we get closer to a tipping point.
penquinHmmmm, I wonder what causes inflation 🤔.
The fact that you think this is a simple question with a simple answer only reveals your own ignorance.
cosmicsoupThis article seems to gloss over the fact that wages really haven’t risen with inflation. There may be more job openings than unemployed people, but do those jobs pay a livable wage?
girlfreddyExactly. Just having job in no way guarantees someone also has a home and food to eat … which is some serious Black Mirror shit.
BlackoutIf you work 40 hours you shouldn't need a 2nd job to survive. With the wealth America has you shouldn't have to work more than 30
If consumers are being forced into relative poverty because expenses are rising faster than incomes are, that is the definition of a bad economy. Whoever wrote this headline is bought and paid for.
Wage growth outpaced inflation in 2023.
just go fuck yourself with a cactus.
How about the previous 10 yr stats?
Not great, but better than the 10+ years before that. Wage growth has mostly been stagnant since the 1970’s but there’s occasional periods where it’s done better. Like now, and I think about 10 years ago when a long period of crappy wage growth was broken following the GFC. It’s one of the few genuinely good things about the economy recently, people are finally earning more and if that keeps up for a few more years a whole lot of people are going to see their lives improved.
Lol your whole argument that it’s better now is based on your own argument it has been stagant for a decade and your pinnacle argument that fixes the mess is… 1 year of lukewarm wage growth? How the fuck does that fix anything?
Lol “few more years” … you have nice jokes.
I think you are misunderstanding me or projecting things onto me that aren’t there. I’m pointing at one of the few good things in the economy and saying if it continues then we will begin to see real change for the better. Also, it’s not been lukewarm wage growth, it’s been relatively strong and especially so for lower income workers. Labor is finally winning some and it’s bizarre that people are getting mad at me for pointing it out. It’s not a joke, it’s more money in people’s pockets finally and I hope it continues.
proleYou know what it looks like to me? It looks like you made a claim before double checking the evidence, and when you got called out, instead of just admitting you were wrong you double and then triple down with some of the dumbest attempts at arguments I’ve ever seen.
They aren’t wrong though, wage growth has been historically strong the last two years.
Then you are jumping to conclusions and making assumptions that have misled you. Up until the 1970s wage generally grew with worker productivity and then everything changed and it’s been much more stagnant with most of the productivity gains turning into shareholder profits instead of rising wages. About 10 or so years ago we started more frequently having periods where wage growth outpaced inflation after a long period of very flat wages. More recently the whole covid and post-covid situation has transformed the labor market and led to wage growth. In 2023 we saw strong wage growth, particularly for lower income workers. If the current trend continues with falling inflation and rising wages then the coming years will lead to meaningful improvements in the lives of workers. What is dumb about this argument? More money in the hands of workers, especially lower income workers, is a good thing.
When will we start talking about thriving wages?
When people stop conflating needs with wants.
Why is the greed of the owner class often conveniently dropped or forgotten in such discussions then? You think billionaires need their billions?
In the end, the entire world is in poverty while 2000 people are rich beyond their wildest dreams.
Its awfully dismissive to pull the “starving kids im China” card
Uhh, no. My entire point was people conflating needs with wants and you’re doing just that.
Food security is more than just starvation fam
Yeah, those with food insecurity should get more before those without it.
The problem is, some people conflate “I can’t afford to eat out everyday” with “needing more money.” No. Just because you have to cook your own meals doesn’t mean your needs aren’t being met.
You can buy a pound of bologna for $1.50 at Walmart, for example. But the people I’m referring too are “too good” for that, even though so many others have less.
when out of control greed is controlled… probably never?
This is part of the issue. My local grocery store pays $15/hour and mostly hires part time to avoid benefits.
1 bedroom apartments start at $1,200/mo. Most places require rent to be no more than about 33% of income. Don’t even get me started on gas/car, insurance, utilities, etc.
There is a huge disconnect.
The economy is NOT in good shape. It is according to metrics they choose to measure, but jobs that pay a living wage are very hard to come by.
webheadTo be fair, it hasn’t been good by THAT standard in decades probably. It just feels worse right now because there was a rise in wages for a bit there that was totally lost to inflation.
I think wages have kept up with inflation, if I’m reading this chart correctly: fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881600Q
It’s normalized by CPI, so a flat line would be no wage growth.
Depends on the the sector, obviously. I’m guessing service sector wages have not kept up with inflation, since it seems like every place is understaffed (they’re not offering enough to attract workers). I also don’t think it accounts for part-time and gig worker wages.
Employed full time: Median usual weekly real earnings: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over
Graph and download economic data for Employed full time: Median usual weekly real earnings: Wage and salary workers: 16 years and over (LES1252881600Q) from Q1 1979 to Q3 2025 about full-time, salaries, workers, earnings, 16 years +, wages, median, real, employment, and USA.
originaluciferis 'the economy' just cover for 'people who own stocks'? are they really ignoring the plight of the common man because some rich peoples stocks are a-ok?
no that can of water did not double in cost to market, but youre going to pay for it like it did.
feels like inflation has pointed out to the common man what a farce 'the economy' is.
PoggervaniaIt’s because the USA’s corporate owners like to obfuscate shit like that. The economy is doing well if all you’re looking at is GDP, stock market, and how profitable companies are.
However, a quick look at the Consumer Price Index shows how fucked the economy is for the citizens - but you never hear about the US’s really bad CPI score and how inefficient most markets are in the US.
What specifically about the CPI are you referring to?
You know, the…landing page that defines the CPI. I guess.
They do it because it works.
The title itself is an act of gaslighting.
I’m gonna take a position for this comment that is a harder line than I usually would take on economic issues: if the consumer is not able to consume at the same rate because prices are going up faster than wages are, then the flow of money
I think it should be clear that what he means is like the famous quote: “Has Anyone Really Been Far Even as Decided to Use Even Go Want to do Look More Like?”
theodewereAmericans who bitch at Joe for high prices were just looking for a reason to be a little bitch
what reason would you consider to be legitimate?
betraying the country by selling secrets would be one
How about lying about their comapnies hiking prices illegally?
That’s what I call a bitch take.
that's the way little bitches see it.. for some little bitches it's the border.. they cry about the border and ask to have their diapers changed, it's pretty funny.. but the little bitches who cry about high prices and ask Joe to make it go away, those are really funny too.. ignorant, childish little bitches..
Hmm i don’t recall having this discussion. I think Biden is the saving grace for U.S.A. something fishy is going on…
A shitty economy that has forced people into paying more for less while corporations lie about the reason for inflation and rightfully soured everyday Americans view of the economy.
The value of the stock market and homes increasing does fuck all for people getting screwed at the grocery store.
I’m fortunate enough to get to benefit from both of those things, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to pretend the economy is great now because theoretical net worth has gone up.
paraphrandGreat, everyone is on the same page now.
More like shrinkflation/greedflation.
“Inflation”
I just stopped buying stuff unless I absolutely need it.
DominusOfMegadeusI really need to learn this discipline
It’s great in our digital age where most things are accessible for free.
If you have expensive hobbies, then there’s not really a way around that.
Other than finding a new hobby of course.
I did that for health reasons a while back. New hobby wasn’t my favorite thing to do but I traded a sedentary hobby for one that is physically active. Several months later the new hobby became my preferred activity.
Hack your brain into liking a cheaper hobby if needed.