such a great economy

[mellowtigger]

I've written here at least once over the years that I think GDP is a bad measure of the condition of an economy. I think the GINI coefficient needs to be included in any measure of national health. Maybe you can understand my frustration when, year after year, we see president after president get up for a State Of The Union address and declare that the USA is "strong".

I've been saying at least since the Occupy movement that things are bad and getting worse. I know I sound foolishly unrealistic when I say it, given all the politicians and newspapers and journals who say otherwise. Consider, though, this chart that was brought to my attention on Reddit. I decided to check the validity of it. I went directly to Google to generate the same graph. It shows how often people in the USA search Google with the phrase "food banks near me", from 2004 to 2023.

Somebody needs to explain to me how things can be so bad and can continue getting worse for so long, yet "the system" keeps telling us that everything is alright.

I don't see how any of this can continue. Please, explain it to me like I'm stupid, because it doesn't make any sense to me. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong, but I need to understand why I'm wrong.

Comments

[zipperbear]

It's possible for the rising tide to lift all boats, while not helping those still on shore. Sometimes, the needs of the many, at least in their own minds, will outweigh the needs of the few, and it always sucks to be a minority.

Also, statistics the art of comparing apples to oranges depending on whether you need votes in Washington State or Florida. Evidenced-based policy-making is picking the preconceived notion of what outcome is desirable, and arranging the measures and policies favorably.

Throw in a dash of Campbell's Law, and draw attention to the drop in new unemployment claims.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell%27s_law

[mellowtigger]

People are literally stealing ice cream and detergent, so they can sell it on the black market.
https://www.npr.org/2023/08/06/1192388445/grocery-stores-are-trying-to-protect-ice-creams-from-getting-stolen-off-their-sh

It seems to me that we're long past time to try something to turn the course of this unfolding disaster. I can't fathom why so many people are unwilling to try. Cue yet another election in a long chain of elections spanning decades where we are told that we simply MUSTN'T vote for a progressive candidate, or else things might get bad.

[dewline]

"...or else things might get bad" usually means that the cruelest of the rich will make things become bad/worse in retaliation.

[mellowtigger]

Or by splitting the vote thereby causing (we're told) the cruelest to win. By convincing people to accept less, it sets the record (election after election after election) that people are willing to accept less. Down the spiral we continue to go. Meanwhile, people fail to vote in USA elections at all. The largest voter bloc is the non-voter. I suspect that deep down they know this pattern too.

[dewline]

Of these things, I'm also certain.

[foeclan]

Your icon might need an update post-Trump.

[mellowtigger]

I'm waiting for the mug shot which they had better give us when it happens.