Capitol Hill Blue Forums Thread Like Summary - What is inflation, anyway?

Thinking about this recently (again), I am forming the notion that inflation is caused by people wanting to “make” money without doing anything. Honestly, who doesn’t want that if you can get it? Speculation, playing the stock markets, windfalls, inheritance, lottery tickets, getting a higher price due to increased demand… if some extra cash floats along, I”ll take it.

But it all contributes to inflation, right? Inflation is like the truly uncaring animal we call Capitalism balancing the books inexorably (though a buttload of externalized costs still keep accruing, awaiting the day they demand payment - in case I’m being too vague, I’m referring to things like climate change and human overpopulation).

What to do about it? Probably ride the nasty but exciting waves until we crash on the rocks.

I have nothing against companies of any size that got that way from having great products that everybody wants. That raises everybody's standard of living. What I hate is rich people and their companies manipulating the laws to make themselves richer.

What actually happens is that when a company has great products that everyone wants, the owner makes millions and buys other companies with great products that everyone wants and makes millions more...then buys other companies that make great products...

Pretty soon you have a multinational conglomerate with a billionaire at its head and thousands of workers being exploited worldwide. What you get is Chinese sweatshops flooding the market with not so great products that no one really needs and nobody's standard of living is getting raised except the corporate investors and the billionaire at the top.

The media loves drama and dramatic turns of events. The simple, boring, news when were where growing up has long been replaced by Inside Edition/Entertainment Tonight-like news 24/7.

Or hunker down in my cave 'til the storm is over. I'm hoping it'll peak this year and usher in another hefty Social Security COLA, then ebb somewhat and ease economic pressure on Dems heading into 2024.


It's the same dog. Or at least they're chained to the same stake. And that they haven't killed each other is proof enough that they are friends.

I think that is exactly why capitalism is dependent upon endless growth and inflation, just like my grade school teacher taught. The problem is that the Achilles heel is normalized up front so that no one questions it.

Growth is good! Greed is good! Everyone deserves to make a 'profit'...

But why is the price of gas and food so goddam high! Damn Biden.

I think of inflation like a game of musical chairs or hot potato. The economy goes round and round, everyone adding their piece to inflation process - wages, scarcity, profit-taking - and trying not to be the last one in line when it stops.

My grocery bill has gone up about $18 a week. I usually pull the trigger on delivery when it hits 30 items. The total used to be about $130 but now is more often $148.

I just bought Breyer's extra creamy chocolate for $4.99 but it's on sale this week for $3.99

Damn....

Demand for real milk is dropping in favor of animal-free beverages. Lack of demand will drive dairy prices down until farmers sell the cows and give up farming...supplies will dwindle and prices will skyrocket...