The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
In the New Yorker...
Front-Ranger:
Okay, this is starting to make more sense, thanks. Maybe I put more emphasis on wage growth because I noticed rising prices more at restaurants and assumed it was because they were paying their staff more to attract them back to work. Rising gas prices didn't factor into the equation for me because I'm used to those prices being volatile. And they are influenced greatly by outside factors such as the Middle Eastern countries.
Prices have started to come down but of course the Biden Admin is still taking flack for them. You can get good prices for stuff but you have to work at it more. I bought a Halloween costume and had it shipped to me for $35 but later I found one at Goodwill for $2 that was better quality. Prices of books have risen but you can get them free from the library, and they don't charge late fees anymore. On my latest trip to get groceries, I noticed almost everything was on sale. Unless you insist on a T-bone steak, you can find good bargains. Convenience foods are still high...I assumed that was because of wages too.
There's a lot happening in retail. Some things, such as bicycles, surged in demand during and after the pandemic and now cycling shops are sitting on a lot of inventory they can't sell. The bottom has fallen out of the marijuana market and crops haven't even been harvested. It will be interesting to see how this holiday season shapes up.
Front-Ranger:
One more thing...I think large numbers of people left the workforce during and after the pandemic. Some went back to school, some took early retirement, some started their own businesses. Many were women who couldn't afford to pay for child care (during the pandemic, child care wasn't available at any price). I've heard of people paying several thousand a month for child care. You'd have to be a billionaire to have several children and still work.
Some young people moved back in with their parents. Many lost their ambition or drive. The article says, "According to a Pew Research Center survey, 92 percent of Americans say that financial stability is more important than upward mobility." In my career, there were a few people who dropped out but most were bought-in to the system, thinking that if they just worked hard enough and long enough, they would succeed and climb the corporate ladder. But for all but a few, that is a myth.
Jeff Wrangler:
I guess I can skip anything that has to do with the election. :-\
Front-Ranger:
In the post-election coverage, I liked George Saunders's "thought exercises" best. Jill LePore's piece was good too.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on November 16, 2024, 12:13:12 pm ---In the post-election coverage, I liked George Saunders's "thought exercises" best. Jill LePore's piece was good too.
--- End quote ---
I'm reading that now.
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