I think he's talking mostly to me, talking Pensacola prices.

And I don't think he's far off. This place used to be cheap, but it is absolutely $2000/month here to rent a place that's worth a damn now. I know, because I have WAY too much house and would like to downsize, and considered just renting for a couple of years until I get some things settled in terms of where and what I do next professionally.

but then I realized that even if I rented, and even downsized some, what I would rent would cost as much as my mortgage and escrow currently do. Actually it would cost more if I found a place with a couple of garage spaces, or rented storage elsewhere.

When I first moved back here in 2011, I thought about buying a condo on the beach, or a house on a canal lot. It would have been a little more than I wanted to spend back then, but I could have done it had I not had to live in a neighboring town further inland to get 50/50 custody of my daughter. I think there was pretty decent stuff around the $250k-300k range back then. Not now. I've looked a couple of times over the last year or so--anything on the water that's any good is basically $1M plus. You'd prob find something for $850k if you were willing to make some compromises.

Now granted, Pensacola is a dramatically nicer place than it was 13 years ago...but there aren't tons of high-paying jobs around here. When I got out of the USMC in 2014, I was unemployed for 5 months and finally took an engineering job over an hour away in Mobile, AL, for a pay cut from what I was making in the Marines.

When I bought my first house here in 2012, I paid $190k for an 1850 sq ft house. I sold it in 2020 (I think) for over $300k. A few months before I sold that one, I bought my current house for $297k, and I expect it's prob worth $450k, maybe $460k now (granted, I did new floors, paint, bathrooms, although I did most of the work and I'm not sure how much that disparity is captured in the pricing predictors).

...but yeah, cost of living here (which is what he was talking about) has gone up dramatically.

Electricity prices and water prices have gone up a lot, too. I bet they've doubled, just guesstimating. $300 at Peg Leg's (which is a beach bar--wooden benches and tables, not some sort of ritzy tapas and craft cocktails place) for 8 people to do drinks and appetizers doesn't sound like a stretch at all.


So to the original point...I think there is plenty of blame to be laid on both Trump and Biden for the acute inflation of the last few years, and also some that neither of them are really to blame for...but I

[Edited on November 3, 2024 at 11:30 PM. Reason : ]

11/3/2024 11:28:55 PM

And that is what people see and feel. When Biden gets up and quotes all these numbers like the stock market increase and says the economy is great. At least 80% of the country is like, what the fuck, who cares? Shopping at Food Lion costs as much as Whole Foods would have 6 years ago.

11/4/2024 6:40:36 AM

Inflation was global, and considerably worse elsewhere. Thanks, Obama!

Also, many if not most people don't even understand what inflation means. When they hear that inflation has moderated and if nearing long-term targets, they think it's a lie because their eggs still cost more than in the past, failing to understand that you would need a similar bout of deflation to return prices to whatever it is they remember. That would come with even more economic pain. You should see what eggs cost in the 1800s. Let's go back to that! Thanks, Obama!

Trump talked about the stock market incessantly, so don't give me that crap. Even though the Biden-era stock market is approximately equal in performance and actually marginally better. But that's only if you care about economic facts instead of economic feelings. I'm certainly better off economically than I was 4 years ago, so I can't wait to see how Trump "fixes" this horribly broken economic hellscape.

11/4/2024 8:04:03 AM

"Don't give me that crap" doesn't combat the narrative or win elections. I 100% agree that people do not understand inflation and confuse inflation reduction with deflation. What I was describing is what Biden is up against when he doesn't take ownership of the problem by acknowledging what people feel.

My fellow Americans, I know the price of your big gulps and tattoos are 3x more expensive than the day I took office. Just yesterday I was getting the Ukraine flag tattooed on my ass and had to pay almost $1200 for it. Double what I paid to have my Barb Wire tattoo in 1999 with Hunter while we were in Myrtle Beach. Trump started the largest money printing the world has ever seen. It took my administration months to slow it down. But as we can report the inflation has slowed to normal levels. While I know you are paying high-end Mexican prices for your Mexi-melts, my colleagues and I are introducing the "Ball like it's Obama Jobs Act" that we expect to double wages by the end of 2026.

[Edited on November 4, 2024 at 8:39 AM. Reason : a]

11/4/2024 8:38:42 AM

I understand, but I've long since lost patience with the truly ignorant electorate. Of course, messaging could be better, but you almost have to make education a cornerstone of messaging to attempt to counteract the torrent of BS being stacked on top of baseline willful stupidity.

11/4/2024 8:50:44 AM

Quote :

"80% of the country is like, what the fuck, who cares? Shopping at Food Lion costs as much as Whole Foods would have 6 years ago."

People aren't aware that they're being micro-transactioned to hell and aren't budgeting, so their perception of disposable income is skewed. Also, to me, most people loudly complaining about the cost of groceries don't actually have a genuine issue affording groceries, to me.

I hate this stage of idiocracy.

[Edited on November 4, 2024 at 10:16 AM. Reason : ]

11/4/2024 10:10:16 AM

Someone please tell me that the Trump rally in Raleigh this morning being sparsely attended is a sign

[Edited on November 4, 2024 at 10:28 AM. Reason : ..]

11/4/2024 10:27:47 AM

How much money have they spent on Trump merchandise?

11/4/2024 10:30:12 AM

I have bought 17 trumpy bears and 3 trump watches. I am not in a cult.

11/4/2024 12:21:07 PM

you didn't get the shoes like I did? you don't love trump as much as I love trump. you're practically a lib.

also, groceries are expensive.

11/4/2024 12:31:48 PM

^^^^It's a sign!

11/4/2024 2:04:40 PM

Quote :

"Inflation was global, and considerably worse elsewhere."

Quote :

"Also, many if not most people don't even understand what inflation means. When they hear that inflation has moderated and if nearing long-term targets, they think it's a lie because their eggs still cost more than in the past, failing to understand that you would need a similar bout of deflation to return prices to whatever it is they remember. That would come with even more economic pain"

Got it. Like I said:

Quote :

"I'm not saying they are good reasons that make sense...but there are reasons why 2020 Biden voters might vote Trump in 2024."

Quote :

"Even though the Biden-era stock market is approximately equal in performance and actually marginally better."

I think a little less good under Biden...but I'd agree with the approximately equal part.

11/4/2024 6:21:27 PM

Quote :

"I think a little less good under Biden"

ORLY?!

Biden is beating Trump on stocks. History shows markets do better under Democrats

https://www.cnn.com/cnn/2024/11/01/investing/stock-market-biden-trump-democrats-republicans

S&P 500 CAGR under Trump = 12.1%

S&P 500 CAGR under Biden = 14.1%

14.1% > 12.1%

11/4/2024 6:48:24 PM

the coz droppin' some information
just a lil additive to your education

11/4/2024 7:19:53 PM

Buy my vote Elmo must?!

11/4/2024 7:30:56 PM

I've legit heard people say their 401k looks a whole lot worse under Biden than it did under Trump. Even though stonks are at all time highs. These people are delusional. The unit way your 401k looks bad right now is if you loaded up on Truth Social

11/4/2024 10:21:18 PM

What kind of 401(k) plan allows people to invest in DJT?

Maybe it looks worse if they are boneheads and sold at the bottom of the COVID crash and / or the 2022 dip and never got back in, or did so too late.

[Edited on November 5, 2024 at 6:01 AM. Reason : More like dunder heads, amirite?!]

11/5/2024 5:58:06 AM

BrokerageLink by Fidelity does I would think. Occasionally penny type stocks are disallowed or stocks with super high volatility. Think you can even buy Bitcoin ETFs now with it, so would definitely think DJT would be OK.

11/5/2024 7:29:58 AM

Buying individual stocks of one's own choice is not a valid way to assess overall economic market performance under a particular party.

11/5/2024 7:55:40 AM

maybe their financial manager put all their money into Tupperware?

11/5/2024 12:37:24 PM

At least Tupperware is useful.

11/5/2024 3:19:23 PM

Guys (and gals?), I'm trying not to be, but I'm nervous and kinda scared.

11/5/2024 3:56:24 PM

Seems only natural for people who care.

Michael Moore seems confident, for whatever that's worth.

11/5/2024 3:58:02 PM

Saw his interview.

11/5/2024 4:09:06 PM

He was prescient in 2016. But being right once doesn't make you a savant.

11/5/2024 4:11:15 PM

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

11/5/2024 10:06:00 PM

Dear leader. For at least 4 years

11/5/2024 10:10:53 PM

Shit ain't looking good at all. RIP Ukraine.

11/5/2024 10:12:14 PM

You can probably conscript there after we pull out.

11/5/2024 10:15:19 PM

Looking like it could be a sweep in the Council of State for Republicans. Shows how bad Robinson fucked the bag up if even Morrow and Dan Bishop could win.

11/5/2024 10:34:06 PM

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1854003982387068929?s=46

Never bet against Elmo

11/5/2024 10:38:12 PM

Biggest surprise of all will be trump winning popular vote

11/6/2024 1:07:01 AM

11/6/2024 1:18:26 AM

I feel bad for that dude

11/6/2024 1:22:44 AM

So do I. I also feel bad for me. And you.

11/6/2024 4:01:24 AM

POPULAR.
VOTE.

[Edited on November 6, 2024 at 4:44 AM. Reason : \n]

11/6/2024 4:42:55 AM

We vote to continue the politics of division!

11/6/2024 6:44:19 AM

You need to upgrade your tea reading skills

11/6/2024 6:55:57 AM

Excuse me, but I never made any predictions. I'm a pessimist with little faith in my countrymen, so I rather expected this to happen, but it doesn't mean I rejoice at it.

11/6/2024 7:01:15 AM

You claimed division. In the short term maybe, not not in the medium and longer term.

11/6/2024 7:06:38 AM

Wondering if you're ever listened to anything Trump says.

11/6/2024 7:08:10 AM

Soros has $7 billion.

Elon has $260 billion, is one of the most influential defense contractors, and now has direct high level influence of the government. He'll get all messaging in line and in a year or two when you've all switched to, "Elon and Trump are good actually" I can switch to, "actually Elon is bad".

11/6/2024 7:14:20 AM

My billionaire is richer than your billionaire!

If there's one thing I have even less confidence in than my countrymen, it's for Musk and Trump to ever do the right thing for any other reason than accident through self-interest.

11/6/2024 7:19:23 AM

Oh it's definitely not the right thing as far as you are concerned, I'm just saying the instigating forces won't have any power to do anything about it for a while.

11/6/2024 7:39:35 AM

Am I part of the instigating forces in your scenario?

11/6/2024 7:42:18 AM

Nah, government and people funding the opposition.

11/6/2024 8:33:27 AM

Quote :

"Former President Donald Trump has won the presidential election, NBC News projects. He is the second president to be elected to two nonconsecutive terms and the first convicted of felonies."

Lol, NBC News

Is it possible for MI, NV, AK, ME, or AZ to make a difference at this point? This doesn't feel over yet, but the current result does avoid an insurrection.

11/6/2024 9:13:13 AM

Nah. It’s over.

And it avoids an insurrection sorta like giving a toddler what he wants when he throws a tantrum solves the problem.

11/6/2024 9:30:33 AM

Poor Ukraine

11/6/2024 9:47:28 AM

I work in a manufacturing plant and Dem policies/actions just don't resonate with the floor workers at all. I don't know a single Liberal one. A SINGLE ONE.

I'd say it's 90% focus on guns and illegal immigration. After that, continually (naturally?) rising costs and LGBTQIA+ stuff just puts Dems right into the gutter for them.

[Edited on November 6, 2024 at 9:50 AM. Reason : ]

11/6/2024 9:49:47 AM