They keep raising prices, stating that it’s due to inflation, but then they keep having record profits.
Meanwhile, the average American can barely afford rent or food nowadays.
What are we to do? Vote? I have been but that doesn’t seem to do much since I’m just voting for a representative that makes the actual decisions.
You can do several things, because prices are rising for several reasons. The most important are to vote, be frugal, and engage politically.
Rents are rising due to over investment, bad zoning policies, and price fixing. Ultimately, if the government doesn’t address these, the inevitable crash will. Voting can help, and not buying into the bubble definitely will.
Consumer prices are rising generally due to a bad economy with growing inequality. Again, vote, but also take care of yourself. For our middle class, the simple act of defiance helps maintain the circulation of wealth. If you can’t buy a home, rent from an individual instead of a property company. That sort of thing helps.
Ultimately, government and community action are needed. You can do both, and fortunately most of this helps you as an individual as well.
It looks like we’re headed towards guillotines and car bombs eventually, but that is not necessary or inevitable yet. There is still plenty of time for civic responsibility, communal action, and political conscience to make things better and get us back on track.