After reading this news story that half of Americans are skipping meals because of affordability and a bad economy, I have to ask how are you all doing out there?
I heard from a real estate agent friend of mine that REOs, i.e. bank foreclosures on home mortgages, are going up like crazy, which is a sign of bad times, like the recession of 2007-08.
I have heard from others about rents not being paid, lack of jobs, etc.
Every day, there’s more news of corporate layoffs, moreso than usual.
I live in the economic bubble of the SF Bay Area, where tech wealth more-or-less insulates me and mine from the most serious consequences of a bad economy, but how are things elsewhere?
What does fixing the system look like though? Far too many people seem to just want to consume unsustainably and would do so even more if they could.
How much does someone need?
Yes, some at the bottom really should have more. But there are many in the middle who should consume less and will justify it by comparing to those at the top who are even worse.
Unfortunately I don’t know how to stop the spending habits of others. Me personally I only buy what I need, not because I can. No fancy car. Once in a while I might splurge but usually on a birthday or Christmas. Part of my frugal is because I don’t know the future of the economy. If the market tanks that will affect my 401k too.
Taxing the rich could be a start. Universal healthcare. I’d be fine paying more taxes if it meant everyone was covered. Putting the right people in charge to make these changes. Get rid of the two parties, the electoral college, and use ranked voting. We’re close to getting rid of the popular vote, just need some more states to sign on.
Honestly its not their problem to create a new system that magically works. Its OK to just say the system sucks and we need to replace it. Americans are so caught up in perfection that we can’t see the good that a few actions can take to make the world more habitable.
The rent is too damn high guy has a point. Lower housing costs and even if you change nothing else, cost of living becomes far easier to manage.