[RICH1]

Who really understands Supply Inflation? How are high Interest Rates going to control rising labor and material costs? Does demoralizing the American citizen ever create a positive growth experience for the future of this country…sales of “ happy pills” by the Pharmaceutical companies are reaching an all time high..

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by RICH1

Who really understands Supply Inflation? How are high Interest Rates going to control rising labor and material costs? Does demoralizing the American citizen ever create a positive growth experience for the future of this country…sales of “ happy pills” by the Pharmaceutical companies are reaching an all time high..

Who knows? Hard to discuss this topic without unveiling the dreaded "P" word.

But "does demoralizing the American citizen ever create a positive growth experience for the future of this country"? In a weird way, I think yes. History shows this to us. The stock market crash followed by the Great Depression plunged a prosperous nation into a decade-long period of high unemployment, soup kitchens, and rampant homelessness, migrations of people to hoped-for greener pastures not seen since the great push westward of the 19th century. But we came out of it better. We knew the people who accomplished it. They were our mothers and fathers--still, in some rare cases, us. Immediately following the depression, they were the soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought a two-front war on opposite ends of the globe. The won--not so much because of military acumen or exception bravery, but because of the industries back home that employed their wives and mothers.

They were "The Greatest Generation".

I was privileged to interview my mother shortly before she died, about life in that time. What I knew about the Great Depression and WW2 I learned from history books. Dad fought in the Pacific theater (won the Bronze Star for his part in the liberation of the Santo Tomas prison in Manila) but he never much talked about it. Mostly to say that He acquired a great deal of respect for the Japanese during his tenure there as part of the army of occupation. He also carried a couple of bills of "occupation money" that he showed us. But otherwise--no. Mom the same. It was characteristic of that generation. But the stuff I learned from Mom was priceless. She talked about how, during the height of the depression, people came together. People doing laundry for one another, often walking more than a mile with a full basket as gasoline was saved only for important tasks, such a plowing or rare trips for supplies. My uncle--my namesake, actually--died at age 8 of rheumatic fever during that time. His family buried him in an unmarked grave as there was no money for anything resembling a modern funeral; certainly none for a headstone. His father--my grandfather--dug his son's grave.

Fast-forward to America 2022. Our worries are largely how inflation will affect our stockpile of money, or how the rollercoaster economy is going to impact our investments. The generations that came after us, in many cases, expect the government to either help pay or forgive the student loans that they incurred going to school for the relatively lucrative job they now have, and in too many cases bemoan the fact that they're not being paid what THEY think they're worth. Our dreams are of grandiose visions of how we can save the planet. Or whether or not spending the money to robotically explore the solar system is justified. Or which EV is best. In short, we argue and bicker about things that simply had no impact at all on the lives of The Greatest Generation. THEIR concern was having enough to eat. Or a place to sleep. Or winning a war. I often wonder just what that generation would think, if they had a glimpse into OUR reality and compared it to theirs. I'm afraid they'd see what we have and are, as heaven, compared to their reality.

“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.” This quote by author G. Michael Hopf says it perfectly, and our history proves it. The best steel is tempered in fire, after all. No one knows how long the current ills will last--or comparatively, if they're even ills at all--but I have no doubt that, in the end, we'll come out on the other side better than when we went into it. It is the American way, after all.

[Kenswing]

What’s the over/under on this thread?

[RICH1]

We have very similar experiences. I really hope your right! You have raised my spirits and I Thank you for that … This most recent Railroad Contractual issue is most definitely a “ P” word discussion!

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by RICH1

Who really understands Supply Inflation? How are high Interest Rates going to control rising labor and material costs? Does demoralizing the American citizen ever create a positive growth experience for the future of this country…sales of “ happy pills” by the Pharmaceutical companies are reaching an all time high..

It has perhaps become a national obsession with complaining. Things are not that bad.
We read about Ukraine. Imagine living wondering when troops will come through or cannons and or missals? Our CPI consumer price index hit 9.1% an it is now 8.2%. I read that in England it is 10%.

Far as, "happy pills," WE are the cause. People choose to take them.

Terms-a soft landing. What does it mean? Perhaps like my post. It could be worse.

[Keefelane66]

Originally Posted by RICH1

We have very similar experiences. I really hope your right! You have raised my spirits and I Thank you for that … This most recent Railroad Contractual issue is most definitely a “ P” word discussion!

Surprising in 2022 people still need to fight for sick benefits. Greed is the worst evil combined profits of railroads this year $25 billion with diesel fuel $5+. Corporation are trying to pull the wool over our eyes, yet they are all reporting exceptionally good earnings.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by RICH1

We have very similar experiences. I really hope your right! You have raised my spirits and I Thank you for that … This most recent Railroad Contractual issue is most definitely a “ P” word discussion!

Far as the railroad strike. The whole set up is INSANE. They regularly go on strike in the last quarter. Many retailers the holiday selling season decides if they will be in business next year. They typically have many different unions. One goes on strike and the others refuse to cross the picket line. They are not on strike so they are still paid while refusing to work.
Management, negotiating to prevent a strike, know that whatever the union guys get they will get a similar package. Many railroads have a fireman his job is to tend the non-existent steam boiler for the steam locomotive.

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

Surprising in 2022 people still need to fight for sick benefits. Greed is the worst evil combined profits of railroads this year $25 billion with diesel fuel $5+. Corporation are trying to pull the wool over our eyes, yet they are all reporting exceptionally good earnings.

And there are still 10 million or so unfilled jobs out there, what's up with that?

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

Surprising in 2022 people still need to fight for sick benefits. Greed is the worst evil combined profits of railroads this year $25 billion with diesel fuel $5+. Corporation are trying to pull the wool over our eyes, yet they are all reporting exceptionally good earnings.

We all view things based on our bias. Fair balanced is in the eye of the beholder.
A corporation is not evil it is a business format. We all can choose to purchase stock, RISK YOUR MONEY, YOUR SAVINGS, and benefit. The offered contract is if, I recall a huge raise RETROACTIVE going back three years. The sick days are PAID sick days. I am an EVIL stock owner. I do not have a pension and am living on dividends. Interesting reality those with a pension it was untaxed income to the pensioner. The pension money is invested in the stock market.

[jimbomaybe]

Originally Posted by RICH1

Who really understands Supply Inflation? How are high Interest Rates going to control rising labor and material costs? Does demoralizing the American citizen ever create a positive growth experience for the future of this country…sales of “ happy pills” by the Pharmaceutical companies are reaching an all time high..

The more money the government prints /puts in the hands of the citizenry increases demand without any work product, ie goods and services= inflation, the Fed is designed to be independent raising , lowering interest rates to adjust supply and demand , only two ways to lower inflation is to raise interest rates lowering demand or raise productivity something businesses are always trying to do, the Fed only has control of rates

[Two Bills]

I was born in UK and grew up during and in the aftermath of WW2.
Poor meant poor in those years.
We had nothing, yet we survived.
Poor today is nothing compared to those times.
Successive generations have had it so good, they have lost their power of making do in bad times.
I have no sympathy for Villagers screaming poverty and hardship.
If they are living above their means, have to big a mortgage etc. tough, downsize until your income meets your needs.
Most have never had it so good.

[RICH1]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

I was born in UK and grew up during and in the aftermath of WW2.
Poor meant poor in those years.
We had nothing, yet we survived.
Poor today is nothing compared to those times.
Successive generations have had it so good, they have lost their power of making do in bad times.
I have no sympathy for Villagers screaming poverty and hardship.
If they are living above their means, have to big a mortgage etc. tough, downsize until your income meets your needs.
Most have never had it so good.

I agree…100 %…..

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

I was born in UK and grew up during and in the aftermath of WW2.
Poor meant poor in those years.
We had nothing, yet we survived.
Poor today is nothing compared to those times.
Successive generations have had it so good, they have lost their power of making do in bad times.
I have no sympathy for Villagers screaming poverty and hardship.
If they are living above their means, have to big a mortgage etc. tough, downsize until your income meets your needs.
Most have never had it so good.

/very true

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by DAVES

Far as the railroad strike. The whole set up is INSANE. They regularly go on strike in the last quarter. Many retailers the holiday selling season decides if they will be in business next year. They typically have many different unions. One goes on strike and the others refuse to cross the picket line. They are not on strike so they are still paid while refusing to work.
Management, negotiating to prevent a strike, know that whatever the union guys get they will get a similar package. Many railroads have a fireman his job is to tend the non-existent steam boiler for the steam locomotive.

Amazing how it is has to come to unions protecting workers for jobs that have no reason to exist. Once upon a time unions existed for a good reason, now not so much. Sad.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

interesting view fo the railroad strike and the history of how they got here

Rail Strike: Why The Railroads Won’t Give In on Paid Leave

F* corporatism