I tend to agree with you but all the "moderate" "normal" Republicans that used to vote for up until 10 years ago is what got you that and the Democrats you vote for now definitely get you that. At least what we have now is trying to throw a wrench in the system, it may not be perfect to your liking but at least something's trying to move.
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Misc This Means WAR
- Thread starter Rain Cold
- Start date
No one enforces anti trust laws anymore
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Downeastnc
Member
And as long as this is this is the attitude then it wont change, I am pretty sure every middle class worker out there right now would love 2 more dollars a hr. and if that means the millionaire CEO only gets 5 million in bonuses instead of 20 I can live with it and so can they.
I remember it was a huge deal when we got cable with only 27 channels
Downeastnc
Member
Companies making money isnt the problem its what they do with that profit that is the problem...they raise prices of their goods, but dont raise wages and benefits for their employees , who are seen as a cost to be cut in order to help increase their margins and profits...then that profits mostly goes to the top 10% of earners in the country. Folks are getting pretty pissed off that all the goods they need to buy are going up and their wages are not.
And when that two dollars an hour causes inflation that zaps it, what then? Who are we taxing at that point?
Unless our entire outloook and attitude changes, its nothing but a forever spiral. If we are to tax the rich, we had better do it when it actually changes something because pulling that prize egg too soon leaves us screwed.
So I heard why Latino vote is back to Clinton levels for Democrats is due to mass deportations.
Downeastnc
Member
No one can convince me that paying a livable wage is going to drive inflation up, hell we did it for DECADES why all of a sudden is it a thing, 10-15 years ago I was able to go on vacations all the time, buy new cars whenever I wanted, now I make considerably more money and cant do those things as easily. Why was it possible to pay a living wage then but not now....the answer is simple corporate greed, the profit now goes to the shareholders and executives, and it is destroying the middle class, in another few decades you are going to have the top 10 or so percent of Americans controlling 90% of the wealth while everyone else struggles. The top 10% owns 93% of all privately owned stocks in this country, thats why they put shareholders over workers, they are paying the profits to themselves cause having millions or even billions of dollars isnt enough anymore I guess.
- The Top 1%: Controls roughly 30% to 32.5% of the total wealth in the United States, which is nearly equivalent to the wealth held by the entire bottom 90% of the population. [1, 2, 3]
- The Top 10%: Owns roughly 60% to 70% (and up to two-thirds of collective net worth), while controlling about 93% of all stocks. [1, 2, 3]
- The Bottom 50%: Holds a mere 2% to 2.5% of the nation's total wealth.
Maybe because those years were red herrings and enigmas in the course of human history where the stars aligned for only a short time? Maybe in that time period you were more well off compared to others through circumstances and inflation from the catch up factor caught you.
I mean heck, I'm sure the government probably thinks the same thing with the absolutely ridiculous bloat and increase in debt.
Downeastnc
Member
In the 80's the middle class had about 35% of the national wealth, now the middle class has 8%....know what else has changed since the 80's...
Corporate Profits Growth: U.S. corporate profits (after tax) have surged from roughly $150–$300 billion per quarter in the 1980s (e.g.around $154 billion in late 1980) to over $3.8 trillion to $4.2 trillion annually/quarterly in 2026 (reaching historic highs of over $5 trillion before tax). Overall, corporate profit growth has vastly outpaced cumulative inflation, growing at an annual rate of roughly 7% to 8% post-1989 compared to slower nominal GDP and wage growth. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Inflation Comparison: While cumulative consumer price inflation has roughly tripled or quadrupled since 1980 (with average annual inflation hovering around 2.5% to 3% over long horizons, punctuated by specific spikes like the early 1980s and 2021–2022), corporate profits have multiplied more than tenfold in nominal terms and roughly doubled as a share of U.S. GDP (climbing past 13%–14% of GDP). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Share of Economy: Unlike wages—which have seen a declining share of total GDP since 1990 (slipping from about 66% to under 62%)—corporate profits and profit margins have expanded to record levels, meaning corporations have captured a disproportionately larger slice of economic growth than general inflation would imply.
And also the 70's and 80's were when women really entered the workforce, rapidly increasing family wages, likely boosting demand and then eventual inflation. Its very possible that the 80's were just the peak of the wage/inflation pyramid where all the stars aligned.
There’s a choice in that equation!
Shaggy
Member
What's the choice going from company A that pays $15 to company B that pays $15.10
Learn something to go to the company that pays $25?
ForsythSnow
Moderator
The company that pays $25 just laid off 15% of their workforce, and aren't hiring you and sent you a ghost job listing to take your data to know how desperate you are so they can use it against their employees wanting $35 an hour but make $30 an hour at that job. That's the job market.
Shaggy
Member
There's good paying jobs out there. If you're willing to be a slave. I had an old indeed account from when I moved 3 years ago. Couple weeks ago I get an email from Amazon who's recently opened a facility near here. My resume matched with their area manager position and they wanted me to apply for 70-90k a year. Nights, weekends front half back half 12 hour shifts. I didn't apply because I'm not a robot or a slave to their business. Bozos has hundreds of billions. Wants to work his workers into the ground.
Come over here then to buttcrack AL where in Clay county Welborn and Koch Foods pay ~$20 an hour and in Talladega county, Nemak(not the best place to work though) starts mid-20s and the Quarries start close to $30 if not higher and these are for the non-skilled positions, and I mean, non-skilled.
Thats just off the top of my head.
GDP is 3.4 today. Will hit 5 by December per Atlanta fed
Average household per capita income just hit all time high $87,000
Poverty rate is all time lowest right now. 10.5
165,000 jobs added past month
Avg Income is $14,000 higher today than 4 years ago
In 2022 inflation was 9.2%
No one was telling the story.
Average household per capita income just hit all time high $87,000
Poverty rate is all time lowest right now. 10.5
165,000 jobs added past month
Avg Income is $14,000 higher today than 4 years ago
In 2022 inflation was 9.2%
No one was telling the story.
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Very true, some companies are like that. Other times its different, like my coworkers nephew who got a job at Cintas and is now making somewhere around $31 an hour at 22 years old or another fellow I know, around 22 as well, got a job working at a municipal housing authority doing maintenance. I think he makes ~$25-26 and hour and they sent him off to get his HVAC cert(which he did.)
Shaggy
Member
I'm making over 20 an hour as well but that's not the point. It's what they expect of you to make that with many of these companies. I'm fortunate that where I am now isn't like that
I think that is true, but in many cases its different. The two I mentioned love their jobs. Maybe y'all just have more garbage employers over that way.
There werent 70,000 women an children killed. Yes women an children have been killed in Gaza since
October 7th
Unfortunately.
You should go watch footage of Oct 7th unedited. I can promise you/ if that was my family neighbors countrymen savagely decaputated like that. Id be rolling into Gaza no holds barred as well. Then off to Iran / the head of the snake that along with the quise of USAID funded and set those wheels into motion.
But like they say over there. No jews/ no news I supose.
Shaggy
Member
Maybe if isreal hadn't stolen land and killed Palestinians for the last 75 years there would have been no October 7th?
Downeastnc
Member
Yep this literally just happened here where I work. They surveyed the local job market for similar industries and decided we get pd enough.
Avalanche
Member
The more marketable you make yourself, the more you earn. So many young adults making money through things they enjoy like social media and event planning. The wealthy spend on silly things. People didn’t use to think a fast food drive through was livable wage, now it’s expected to be.
Now people my age (52) that are blue collar workers are in danger. Places like Amazon are preparing to replace those with AI, robots, and the work force will soon be flooded with abled bodies looking for work, unless new industries arise needing the labor force.
They "shipped" those good paying Jobs too~~~> India, or hired H1-B's too replace you!
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It was conquered land, owned by the British, not the Jews (except for some who already lived there). It was gifted to the Jews after WWII by a coalition of countries. Nothing "stolen" about it. We need to abandon the term "stolen" land. It's conquered, not stolen. If you possess some land, and another group desires to control it, fights you for it, and you lose, It's because your defense was not strong enough. Asking for it back is not going to work. Your group has to fight for it, just like the conquering group did. Better not lose it in the first place. That's why we have Department of War and why it's essential. And that is NOT an excuse or reason to murder innocents! They put babies in ovens...I can't even believe you're defending these monsters. I would have leveled Gaza by now and removed them all. Israel showed extreme restraint.
We can crunch numbers and pull stats and say “well you’re not doing this right is why you’re broke” but the struggle is real out here. I’ve paid my house off and own the land it’s on. I earn around $45hr with added weekly cash incentives, have no house payment and still have to closely watch my spending. I made far less money during the pandemic but still managed to pad a savings account and I was STILL PAYING A MORTGAGE at that time. Something is very wrong. I do not like spending money. If I’m hurting making what I’m making living in a house that’s paid for can you imagine what the average American is feeling right now..Money just goes so fast these days.
Socialism is just a whisker away, congrats.
Shaggy
Member
Not to mention the ones who say get out and get a job but maybe don't know how much childcare costs. My co-worker spends $330 a WEEK.
The coalition is what's important. Black voters turning out and college educated whites are the core D constituency now. As the south gets more educated in the suburbs and black turnout remains energized from R efforts to repeal the VRA and CRA, the southern states are now competitive. Competition is good as it increases turnout and reduces the chances of getting a nutcase on the general election ticket from either party.
Data center spending is half the GDP growth right now. HALF. It seems like we're going to slowly turn the thermostat down which is good instead of shutting down the projects at once. It's a speculative bubble either way so yikes.
You DO NOT OWN said home & land! Your STILL pay RENT too city/county Gooberments!
Property Taxes=RENT=NO OWNERSHIP! ..
Don't believe me? Don't pay your "property taxes".. & watch Government GOONS come & EVICT YOU!
Look, I know said taxes go too schools/Fire dept(s) etc etc.. Though I strongly advocate that if your 60~65 or older with NO KIDS & your home/Land are paid off re: Mortgage free, with no childern in said household, you should be EXEMPT from paying "property taxes" on your property, (except for something like the Fire Dept or Police Dept.), otherwise you should be EXEMPT!
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You are exactly right. I don’t pay a mortgage but SHE AINT MINE
We had this a long time ago and it simply did not work. Pooling tax dollars is the only way we've found to reliably provide government services to all socioeconomic classes. Like it or not we all have to pony up in some way.
Look up what your city/county uses its "general fund" for outside the targeted fees like schools/fire/ems/etc. Even at a small local scale your government is building and maintaining the framework of society around us, often unseen.
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Agreed! Switch to consumption taxes only is my idea.
Paying $18 for 160 acres thru the homestead act doesn’t equate to the cost for 160 acres today. Our ancestors received many “handouts.”
Back to war
Downeastnc
Member
That something is corporate greed, plain and simple, prices went up due to covid and never came back down, the wealth transfer ongoing is hurting the middle class. People can try to sugarcoat this however they want but the numbers do not lie, the rich are getting richer at a accelerated rate and the middle class are getting poorer as our wealth transfers over to them in the form of higher prices etc...the same people that run and fund these companies etc choose to pay workers less, decrease benefits, and raise the prices of their goods and then send the profit to the shareholders ( which are themselves as 93% of all private stocks are owned by the top 10% of American earners) instead of better wages and benefits for the workers. So we see our buying power decrease, we see our wages grow much slower than COL increases, our healthcare has become ridiculous as the employers shift more and more of the cost to the workers so they can send more profit to the shareholders IE themselves....
Your post is 100% spot on pre covid everything was fine, now we are darn near paycheck to paycheck, my cash reserves have melted away ( we easily had 4-5 months of bills covered in checking alone), luckily I have a decent 401k and will inherit some wealth so I have a bit of a safety net. The point is its a damn shame that a combined annual income of 130k in eastern NC is not enough money to have a house, afford new vehicles, etc, we went on one vacation all year etc. I guess I could do like so many others and just run my credit cards up but I hate doing that so my credit load is low compared to most middle class folks.
I still have 8 yrs to go on my mortgage though, and I really want to replace my 20 yr old truck, however when I was looking around I couldnt even find a older truck with 50-100k plus miles on it for less than 600-700 a month, if I went new and full size its 1000 plus a month and I have great credit. In 2019 I bought my wife a Nissen Rogue and my son who just turned 16 a Nissen Versa and together they were 700 a month brand freaking new, and the Rogue was the upgraded package. Now a new base model Rogue is $600 a month by itself...
AI says me and the wife need to make 200k a year now to live a comfortable life....thats roughly $95 bucks a hr combined....so we need about $30-40 dollars worth of raises between us to fall inline with that figure.
A $120,000 annual household income is no longer enough to live "comfortably" for a typical family in North Carolina. While $120,000 remains well above both the national median income ($83,730) and North Carolina's statewide median, rapid shifts in the cost of living have dramatically moved the goalposts. Recent economic data from 2026 indicates that a family of four in North Carolina now requires $209,000 per year to achieve true financial comfort—covering basic needs, lifestyle splurges, and healthy long-term savings. [1, 2]
The pressure felt at $120k is not a failure of budgeting; it is a reality dictated by a higher baseline for the American middle class.
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