The Nationwide Retirement Institute conducted a study to determine how Americans are handling rising prices. Nearly one in five respondents (18%) said they had to forego a meal or grocery shopping due to inflation. Gen Z (28%) and Millennials (23%) reported higher rates of skipping meals. Over the past year, two in five households (40%) relied on food banks.
This is having an impact on health. Around 17% said that they no longer can afford healthier food options, which are notoriously more expensive than cheap, calorie-rich junk food. Fourteen percent admitted that they canceled or postponed plans to see a doctor, and 11% skipped out on their annual physical altogether due to the costs involved. An alarming 10% said that they are unable to afford their prescription medication. The younger generations like Gen Z (17%) and Millennials (19%) said that they cannot afford mental health care.
Staying healthy has become a luxury, as 14% of respondents had to downgrade their health insurance plans. Again, Gen Z (23%) and Millennials (20%) have been forced to sacrifice more than other generations. These two generations are also priced out of the housing market and strapped with debt. They are less likely to start families and are worse off than their parent’s generation. This will create a ripple effect as people who are unable to meet their basic needs will struggle to be productive members of society.
The Davos in the Desert meeting has humiliated Washington. The president himself was unable to secure a deal with Saudi Arabia, and now America’s elite are congregating in Riyadh to discuss trade. The New York Times released an article claiming that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “duped” Joe Biden into thinking that he would increase oil production. Now, the White House is claiming that Joe’s failed visit to Saudi Arabia had nothing to do with oil.
Perhaps Uncle Joe was working on his tan? White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre said that the situation has been “mischaracterized” and said the NYT article was fake news. “Look, we’ve also been clear that, our trip, that the President’s trip to the Middle East was not about oil,” she stated. “What the President is focused on currently and today and has been for the past several months since the war started — remember, because of Russia’s war, we have seen a spike in gas prices, so as you hear us say, Russia’s tax hike, and so, we have done everything that we can and continue to do the work — the President has — to lower the prices for the American people. That’s why you have seen gas prices go down.”
Blame is on “Russia’s tax hike” and not Washington’s inability to negotiate or maintain diplomatic relations with strategic trading partners. The NYT article claims that the kingdom promised it would “accelerate an OPEC Plus production increase of 400,000 barrels per day already planned for September” followed by an additional 200,000 bpd increase from September to December. OPEC+ decreased production by 2,000,000 bpd instead.
Due to this failed arrangement, oil prices rose right before the 2022 US midterm elections. Biden released Strategic Petroleum Reserves in response to temporarily bring prices down, as he does not want America to see the repercussions of this failed deal.
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 28, 2022 | Sundance
CTH has covered the origin of food inflation since we first raised the alarms in the spring of 2020. A confluence of events starting with the fracturing of the food supply chain (shutting down restaurants, hospitality venues, schools, cafeterias, etc), created the initial major problem. Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sold at retail stores could not keep up with demand after 50% of the food supply system was shut down.
Within the U.S. retail food supply chain (350+ million people), manufacturing CPG products relies on a system of staying one to two harvest cycles ahead of demand. However, when restaurants and fresh food venues were closed, very quickly frozen, bulk stored and siloed U.S. food storage systems, the storage needed for CPG products, were emptied.
Long after the time when all food distribution was reopened, the shortages of CPG products continued. You saw the result with empty shelves at the supermarket. It takes a long time (years) for those inventories to refill.
We warned of this in 2020 and then followed the predictable outcome in 2021 and 2022.
When Joe Biden then shut down the U.S. energy production system in early 2021, the massive increases in energy costs -and the shortages of natural gas- became fuel on the inflationary fire of CPG goods. Again, in October 2021 CTH noted that retail prices were going to rise quickly, and they did.
Throughout 2022 food prices have risen dramatically as the food distribution and processing system was now under pressure from all sides. The shortage of inputs (to refill food storage and warehousing needs) combined with the much higher costs to generate those inputs -the direct result of the exploding energy costs- created massive inflation pressure. The pricing result we are seeing now (third wave of food inflation) is exactly what we have stated, discussed and predicted for more than two years.
While all food costs are skyrocketing, the prices for manufactured or processed food are much higher than the price increases for fresh food.
While both fresh and CPG foods have risen in price due to energy costs, the processing of food uses more energy… and that energy comes at a higher price…. so the CPG inflation is much higher than the fresh half of the supply chain.
In essence, the CPG goods carry higher farming costs plus much higher manufacturing costs.
For those who say, ‘fresh food is healthier‘, you are correct. However, let me also remind you that we cannot feed 350 million people with fresh food alone – and simultaneously export billions of tons of bulk food products like grain, corn and soybeans.
The U.S. food distribution system needs processed food for retail restaurants, cafeteria, lunchrooms and grocery stores. [Ex. Italian restaurants will not start making pasta sauce from tomatoes, and if they did you likely couldn’t afford to eat there.]
So here comes Joe Biden, without a clue in the world of what I just described above. And his food inflation solution?…. well, you just have to hear it yourself to see it. WATCH (01:35, prompted):
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[Wall Street Journal] – […] The personal saving rate, a measure of how much money people have left over after spending and taxes, fell to 3.1% from 3.4% in August. It is down from 7.9% a year ago as consumers tap their rainy-day funds.
U.S. credit-card balances hit $916 billion in September, returning to prepandemic levels, credit-reporting firm Equifax Inc. said. Balances are up 9% from January and about 23% higher than their pandemic low in April 2021.
A closely watched reading of underlying inflationary pressures, meanwhile, picked up last month and remained near a four-decade high. When stripped of volatile food and energy prices, the PCE price index strengthened to a 5.1% year-over-year increase—the strongest pace since March.
Friday’s report comes on the heels of other data showing consumers’ momentum weakened in the summer months. Consumer spending accounts for roughly two-thirds of total U.S. economic output. (read more)
There are growing calls from users to delete the payment app PayPal. Two weeks ago, the company came under fire for hiding a clause in its terms and conditions that permits the company to fine users $2,500 for misinformation. This is what the original term consisted of:
You may not use the PayPal service for activities that…involve the sending, posting, or publication of any messages, content, or materials that, in PayPal’s sole discretion, (a) are harmful, obscene, harassing, or objectionable, (b) depict or appear to depict nudity, sexual or other intimate activities, (c) depict or promote illegal drug use, (d) depict or promote violence, criminal activity, cruelty, or self-harm (e) depict, promote, or incite hatred or discrimination of protected groups or of individuals or groups based on protected characteristics (e.g. race, religion, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, etc.) (f) present a risk to user safety or wellbeing, (g) are fraudulent, promote misinformation, or are unlawful, (h) infringe the privacy, intellectual property rights, or other proprietary rights of any party, or (i) are otherwise unfit for publication.
Two weeks after removing the penalty after mass backlash, PayPal has reintroduced the language into their terms and conditions. Basically, PayPal can use their “sole discretion” to rob its customers for any reason. Former PayPal CEO David Marcus criticized the company’s woke policy. “It’s hard for me to openly criticize a company I used to love and gave so much to. But @PayPal’s new AUP goes against everything I believe in. A private company now gets to decide to take your money if you say something they disagree with. Insanity,” he tweeted. Elon Musk, also a former PayPal CEO and co-founder, said he agreed with Marcus.
Why would anyone want to link their bank account to a company that could fine their users for thousands of dollars at any time? There are plenty of alternatives. As a reminder, PayPal also owns Venmo.
One of my employees attempted to close her account yesterday and received the following message. PayPal is making it difficult for users to delete their accounts and unlink their debit cards. This is completely unethical and shows that the service cannot be trusted.
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 27, 2022 | sundance
Will big tech and social media remove Joe Biden for violations of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation? Considering his remarks today, they should.
Reading from a teleprompter loaded with lies about the economy, Joe Biden stunningly states that gas prices are lower today than when he took office. Further claiming that gasoline was $5/gal. {Direct Rumble Link} Nothing about any of his economic claims is true. WATCH (1 min):
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Allowing people to return to work after the pandemic lockdowns is not “creating jobs.” And gasoline was not $5/gal when Joe Biden took office.
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 27, 2022 | sundance
Just a quick notice and alert to highlight some common technological ‘glitches’ and occurrences that are appearing around the internet, coincidentally timed as a result of the pending 2022 midterm election.
By now everyone is familiar with Big Tech control mechanisms like blocking, shadow banning, downgrading and throttling.
Essentially, these are methods within the technology space that are designed to influence opinion and block access to information and communication adverse to the ideology of the provider(s).
Most often we associate those terms with social media platforms; however, within the infrastructure of the internet itself the same intent is also carried in various forms you might not be familiar with. I am seeing a lot of deployed control systems triggered recently, it is worth mentioning in case you notice something different.
Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) are increasingly directing your background internet travels and blocking you from access to content they define as against their interest. Major players in the field of providing online access (comcast, Xfinity, AT&T, etc.) as well as regional operators also have a vested ideological stake. If you find yourself having difficulty navigating the internet, especially during this election season, be aware the ISP provider could be in control.
Cell phone communication networks also have the ability to control data transmitted through their systems. Text messages containing links to unapproved or dissident websites can be blocked by code and algorithms assigned to monitor traffic. Phone browsers and portable internet hot spots may also be controlled by the provider. You may not be aware, but your agreement with your cell phone provider gives them the ability to filter data on your device according to their individual standard.
Again, just be aware.
Browsers are also major players in the field of filtering information and controlling user behavior. It could be as subtle as an image or link not appearing for you, or it could be total blocking of traffic to website destinations they have defined as adverse to their interests. Large activist organizations provide lists of websites and content to feed into the filtration system. Just be aware your browser may indeed be controlling your content and as a result controlling your perspective.
The obvious issues with internet search engines (google, duck-duck etc.) are well documented, however increasingly Apps and authorized software additions to your devices come with mechanisms to control what information may be visible to you. This is where the terms “disinformation”, “misinformation” and “malinformation” become useful tools to justify the interception and blocking of your activity.
Sometimes the network may provide a warning or pop-up in their effort to stop you from reaching the information they want to control, but increasingly it just happens in the background, and you have no idea. This is one of the unspoken benefits in the “cookie” system. In addition to providing direct advertising experiences based on your browsing history, you as a user, may be identified as a dissident voice and assigned a label within the same cookie identification process.
Most people who use the internet have no idea a unique label has been assigned to them in the virtual space. Those labels can be grouped together and contained within the control systems of cyberspace.
Increasingly the techfiltration process has become a Staziesque public-private partnership. You can well imagine what happens when the people in control of technological systems have an ideological mission to shape public opinion, simultaneous with the government people who define dis-mis-and malinformation delivering requests from the FBI and DHS to the technological partners who control the techfiltration process.
The bottom line, just be aware that information you may choose to access, research or share, is heavily controlled by the providers you select to facilitate your online information and communication networks. You are likely right now blocked from accessing information and have no idea it’s happening.
If you cannot reach a website, see an image, view a page, or navigate a system, it’s likely not anything you are doing wrong; most often it’s the result of a tech control system designed to keep you away from the data. Additionally, valid information like emails or text messages are increasingly identified as spam or blocked completely by the email or cell phone service you have subscribed to.
All of this is just an fyi, because I happen to notice these types of curious conversations taking place with increased frequency right now. Lots of people are wondering why they cannot access or see things. These are likely not ‘glitches.’
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 27, 2022 | sundance
The dissidents at Project Veritas have received leaked whistleblower information from the FBI highlighting a guidance document that puts “disinformation” into the category of an “election crime.” [Source Article Here] According to the internal guidance, sharing “false or inaccurate information intended to mislead others” may lead the FBI to charge people with election crimes.
The document details how the Bureau will tackle what they consider to be “election crimes.”
It lists “misinformation” as a potential election crime, describing it as “false or misleading information spread mistakenly or unintentionally.”
The document also lists “disinformation” as a potential election crime, describing it as “false or inaccurate information intended to mislead others.”
It continues, “Disinformation campaigns on social media are used to deliberately confuse, trick, or upset the public.”
These categories could raise questions about who gets to determine what is “misinformation” and/or “disinformation.” (read more)
Now you know why I continue to say there is no such thing as “disinformation”, “misinformation” or “malinformation”, there is only information. Once we allow a superseding system within government to start defining ‘information’, we open ourselves to control over thoughts and speech.
Comrades, you were not born with a brain that requires you to believe everything you read or see. You were born with a brain allowing you to absorb information and make independent decisions as to the validity of it, truthfulness or lies. Do not abdicate your thinking of responsibility for discernment to anyone – especially the government.
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 27, 2022 | sundance
The topline of a third-quarter GDP at +2.6% looks good [DATA HERE]. However, a look into the numbers shows alarm. The domestic U.S. economy, as measured by Main Street creating goods and services for domestic consumption, contracted in the third quarter.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) calculation is a valuation of all goods and services created within the economy, minus the value of goods and services imported. However, even a cursory look under the topline number shows how the import/export dynamic creates the illusion of economic growth.
In the third quarter we exported hundreds of billions worth of energy products, including massive liquified natural gas (LNG) sales to Europe, and oil sales to the global market from the strategic petroleum reserve. We also sold billions in weapons to Europe. Those sales are calculated as exports, lifting the GDP number (Table 1). At the same time, imports of durable goods into the United States collapsed; meaning less was deducted from the GDP. The net import/export impact on the GDP dynamic was +2.77% (Table 2).
Meaning the third-quarter import/export dynamic alone contributed 2.7% growth to the percentage of change for the prior period. However, the total GDP only rose 2.6%, because the actual economic value created domestically got smaller. We made less internally, sold less internally and consumers purchased less internally.
You can see the import/export dynamic in whole dollars within Table 1:
TABLE 1 – We exported 17.2% more goods in the third quarter than in the second quarter (that’s mostly energy sales and food sales to the global market). We imported 8.7% less goods in the third quarter than the second quarter. That’s mostly the drop in companies ordering products from overseas for sales in the United States. Companies imported less because inventories climbed as consumers stopped purchasing durable goods and non-essentials.
Table – 2 (modified for clarity) shows us the impact or contribution from the import/export dynamic:
In Table-2 you can see the net impact of higher exports and lower imports lifted the GDP by 2.77%. However, the total GDP only gained 2.6% due to the other dynamics inside the economy slowing down. The import/export dynamic alone was enough to explain the entire gain in Q3 GDP and is a function of US support of the European war economy as the US exports record number of commodities (oil and gas), as well as Joe Biden’s massive multi-billion weapon sales to Europe.
The Biden administration will use the +2.6% GDP number to claim the U.S. “recession” never existed, despite two previously negative quarters. However, while technically the talking point may be true, the domestic U.S. economy (Main Street) is making less stuff and consumers are buying less stuff.
The savings rate is also declining. BLS: “Personal saving was $626.1 billion in the third quarter, compared with $629.0 billion in the second quarter. The personal saving rate—personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income—was 3.3 percent in the third quarter, compared with 3.4 percent in the second quarter.” American households are saving less because essential purchases like housing, rent, food, fuel and energy, are costing much more.
When households evaluate their checkbooks, a Biden administration claim of a growing economy falls flat – because the only part of the economy that is growing is the part that fuels the energy needs of Europe. Main Street USA is suffering through the massive inflation that Joe Biden has created, and purchases of anything other than necessities have come to a near halt.
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 26, 2022 | Sundance
During a White House announcement today, Joe Biden pledged to have all agencies in the federal bureaucracy begin to target private industry for charging service fees, or what the administration calls “junk fees.” The junk fees relate to everything from bank overdraft charges, to hidden cleaning fees on car rentals, to hotel resort fees and even fees on airlines for seats with more legroom.
According to the White House, the junk service fees disproportionately impact marginalized communities, minorities and low-income households. The airline fees are particularly racist because the airline prices for more comfortable seats have a “disparate impact” (legal term for federal intervention) on protected categories of people.
Poor people cannot afford bigger seats. Poor people are disproportionately minority. Ergo a higher percentage of minority people cannot afford the comfortable seats. That makes charging more for comfortable seats an illegal practice according to the legal theory of ‘disparate impact.’ WATCH:
[Transcript] – […] Some airlines, if you want six more inches between you and the seat in front, you pay more money. But you don’t know it until you purchase your ticket.
Look, folks, these are junk fees. They’re unfair, and they hit marginalized Americans the hardest, especially low-income folks and people of color. They benefit big corporations, not consumers, not working families. And that changes now.
You know, we’ve been working on this for a while. I know it’s been a tough few years. But from day one, my administration has been laser-focused on easing the burden facing working-class families and giving them, as my dad would say again, just a little breathing room.
And because of the steps we’ve taken, the United States is in a stronger position today than any other country in the world, economically.
Jobs are up. People are back to work. American manufacturing is roaring back.
As a matter of fact, I’m going to be heading up to Syracuse, New York — that area — where a U.S. company, Micron, is going to be investing $100 billion. I think I go day after tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Manufacturing computer chips will put tens of thousands of Americans to work.
Working hard to tame inflation with policies to bring down the cost of gasoline, home energy bills, and prescription drugs. (read more)
The justice department’s use of the legal theory behind “disparate impact” was an outcome of Barack Obama and Eric Holder taking office.
The Disparate Impact outlook then became part of the regulatory and compliance system within every agency of the federal government, including the Dept of Labor.
Essentially, it is a progressive legal theory advanced by the long-term members of Lawfare, and it carries inherent conflict with existing law. Take this example…..
The Dept of Labor states that businesses cannot discriminate in employment law based on legally protected categories of person, like race, marital status, nationality, sex, gender, pregnancy, or sexual identity. Simultaneously, it is also unlawful for businesses to hire illegal aliens as workers. When businesses used social security systems to check employment eligibility, they ran afoul of the ‘disparate impact’ rule.
A higher percentage of Mexican nationals were disqualified from employment because a higher percentage of Mexican nationals in the U.S. used fake documents. Because the percentage of disqualified Mexicans for employment exceeded the percentage of Mexicans in the population, the use of the SSI system for employment eligibility was originally unlawful under the rules of ‘disparate impact.’
It sounds crazy, but that’s the way this legal term is used within the federal bureaucracy.
Disparate Impact is the underlying premise behind the regulatory authority Joe Biden is stating today in his approach toward “junk fees.”
This is the larger legal framework behind Social Justice, Economic Justice and Equity.
Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 25, 2022 | Sundance |
During an Arizona media gubernatorial Q&A with Republican candidate Kari Lake, the pundit asked Mrs. Lake about hypothetical backlash from the NFL toward her campaign promise to secure the border.
The continually impressive Kari Lake handled the question forthrightly. WATCH:
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This is a library of News Events not reported by the Main Stream Media documenting & connecting the dots on How the Obama Marxist Liberal agenda is destroying America
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